Deadly Explosion in Aleppo: Suicide Bomber Targets Syrian Police

Briefing

A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near a police checkpoint in Aleppo on Tuesday morning, killing at least one officer and wounding several civilians, according to Syrian state media and local activists.

The Attack

Witnesses said the blast shook the al-Hamdaniyeh district shortly after 8 a.m., sending a plume of black smoke over the normally crowded intersection. Emergency crews raced through debris-strewn streets to reach the wounded.

"I heard a thunderous boom, then saw bodies on the ground," shopkeeper Rima Khalaf told our correspondent. "People were screaming, cars were on fire. It felt like the war had never ended."

Security Response

Police cordoned off the area while forensic teams collected evidence. State television reported that one officer died on the way to hospital; at least four civilians were treated for shrapnel injuries. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Context of Violence

Although large-scale combat has subsided since the government retook Aleppo in 2016, sporadic insurgent attacks continue to rattle the city. Analysts note that suicide bombings remain a favored tactic for remaining jihadist cells seeking to undermine state control.

• The last major bombing in Aleppo occurred in March, killing three soldiers.
• UN monitors warn that Syria's humanitarian crisis is deepening amid economic collapse.
• Russian and Turkish forces still patrol nearby frontlines under a fragile truce deal.

What Comes Next

Officials vowed to hunt down those responsible, but residents fear further bloodshed. "Every morning we wonder if it's safe to open our stalls," Khalaf said. "Peace here feels temporary."