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A number of people have been injured after explosive devices went off in central Damascus, reportedly near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron had been staying.<\/b><\/p>\n
A security source told the BBC the blasts were caused by two devices. Syrian media said 18 people, including four police officers, were injured. <\/p>\n
Macron is in the capital for talks with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace. His officials said he was safe and did not hear the explosions.<\/p>\n
After travelling to Syria, Macron is set to head to Turkey for the Nato summit. The visit “continues as planned”, according to the Elysee Palace.<\/p>\n
After reports of explosions in the city, videos and images on social media showed plumes of smoke and flames rising from a vehicle near a hotel in the Syrian capital.<\/p>\n
As those reports came in, Syrian state television said that al-Sharaa had welcomed Macron to the presidential palace.<\/p>\n
BBC Verify has been analysing video footage of the blasts, which shows the explosions happened approximately 125m from the Four Seasons hotel, on the pavement of Shoukry al-Quowatly, a major thoroughfare running through the capital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n