Incident Summary:

03/17/2012: A suicide bomber in a vehicle detonated near the Air Force Intelligence building in Damascus city, Damascus governorate, Syria. This was one of two suicide attacks on government buildings in the city on this day. A total of 29 people were killed and 140 injured in both attacks. The Al-Nusra Front claimed responsibility for these incidents.

GTD ID:
201203170007

When:
2012-03-17

Country:
Syria

Region:
Middle East & North Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Damascus

City:
Damascus

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Government (General)
Name of Entity Air Force Intelligence Directorate
Specific Description Building
Nationality of Target Syria
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Not Applicable
Specific Description Civilians
Nationality of Target Syria
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Vehicle
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?Yes
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualty numbers for this attack represent an equal division of a cumulative total of casualties covering incidents 201203170007 and 201203170008.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Nusrah Front Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Posted to website, blog, etc.)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 15 Fatalities / 70 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 15
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 1
Total Number of Injured 70
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Syria bomb attacks timeline," Agence France Presse, May 10, 2012.
"UPDATE 1-Sunni Islamists say carried out Damascus bombing," Reuters News, March 22, 2012.
"Islamists claim Syria bombs 'to avenge Sunnis'," Agence France Presse -- English, March 21, 2012.