The defense minister of Syria – General Daoud Rajiha, as well as other ministers and high ranking officials were killed in a suicide attack on the Defense Ministry Building in the Ummayad Square. Ummayad square is located just down the road of the Presidential Palace.

UPDATE: The Syrian Interior Minister is amongst the seriously injured.

UPDATE2: The Brother-in-Law of Bashar Al-Assad, Assef Shawkat is reported to have been killed or seriously injured in the same blast.