Shrine Damage In Suicide Bombing Outside Damascus

A suicide bomber has blown up a van near a major Shi'ite shrine outside the Syrian capital of Damascus, reports the Los Angeles Times.

A bomb-laden vehicle was detonated Thursday in a parking lot outside the Sayyida Zainab shrine, injuring 14 people and damaging the shrine, said security officials.

It was unclear if the shrine or a nearby police station was the target.

Syrian authorities have blamed Al-Qaida-linked militants for other such suicide bombings.