An explosion at a café in central Damascus killed at least six people and injured 22, according to Syria’s Ministry of Health.

The blast occurred in the busy al-Marjah district near the Palace of Justice, causing extensive damage as bystanders provided first aid before emergency responders arrived.

Syrian authorities said the explosion was caused by an explosive device and have launched an investigation using surveillance footage to identify those responsible.

Security forces initially sealed off the area over concerns about a second explosion and are investigating whether sleeper cells seeking to destabilize the country were involved, Al-Jazeera has reported.

Officials said the death toll could rise and pledged to hold those responsible accountable while emphasizing efforts to maintain stability in Syria.