Internal Security arrests suspects, investigates deadly Damascus Countryside shooting

Damascus, Oct. 3 (SANA) Internal Security forces arrested several suspects and launched an investigation after a shooting killed three adults and injured four children in the Yabroud area of Damascus Countryside, a security source said Saturday.

The shooting occurred Friday evening when gunmen opened fire on a taxi carrying a family in the town of Ras al-Maarra, the source told SANA.

Internal Security forces responded to the scene, established a security cordon and detained several suspects as investigators began working to determine the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible.

The vehicle was carrying seven people — a man, his wife, his brother’s wife and four children. The three adults were killed, while all four children were injured.

The children were taken to Yabroud Hospital for treatment. One girl who suffered a gunshot wound to the head was transferred to Deir Atiyah Hospital and admitted to intensive care because of the severity of her injuries.

Preliminary information indicates the shooting may have stemmed from a family dispute, the security source said. The investigation remains underway, while Internal Security forces are maintaining a heightened presence in the area to prevent further violence.