Several shells explode outside Russian embassy in Damascus during pro-Russia rally
Several shells have exploded outside the Russian embassy in Damascus during a pro-Russia rally. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the shelling of the embassy is an act of terror.
It was intended to scare supporters of the fight against terrorists, Lavrov added.
Local journalist Alaa Ebrahim, reporting from the scene in Damascus, told RT hundreds of people gathered in front of the embassy on Tuesday, thanking the Russian Air Force for its support of the Syrian Army in its battle against terrorism across the country. According to Ibrahim, about half an hour after the rally started, one of the shells fell about 200 meters from the location of the peaceful demonstration. Luckily, no one was injured.
Alaa Ibrahim said that the participants of the rally, members of the students' union as well as political parties' representatives, had been waving Russian flags and were carrying banners saying “We Support Unity between Russia and Syria.” Some chanted slogans in support of the strikes launched by the Russian air force, others held up photographs of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The first shell fell at around 10am, some 200 meters from the participants. Police immediately told people to disperse. About 6 minutes later, the other shell hit. Police again tried to force people to disperse for fear those may turn to be just initial shots, and if the new shells are be launched, all of these people would die. People dispersed by about 11am. Most began to disperse immediately after the first shell exploded," Ibrahim said.
An embassy employee told RIA Novosti news agency that there were no injured among the staff.
“Two shells landed on the territory of the embassy this morning,” First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Damascus Eldar Kurbanov confirmed in an interview with TASS, adding that there have been no casualty reports.
#Ru embassy in #syria shelled by presumed "moderate" rebels as hundreds of civilians held pro-Russia rally outside pic.twitter.com/szEHlEO8JW
— Murad Gazdiev (@MuradoRT) October 13, 2015Damascus attack: What can be more 'moderate' than shelling an embassy and unarmed civilians holding a peaceful rally pic.twitter.com/GnPulr6HFa
— Murad Gazdiev (@MuradoRT) October 13, 2015Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said that the Russian ambassador to Syria confirmed that two mines struck the Russian embassy.
“That is a clear act of terror, aimed at the intimidation of those who want to fight terrorism…” Lavrov said as cited by RIA Novosti news agency.
