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Syrian footballers from the al-Wathbah club after two mortars exploded next to a stadium in Damascus
Syrian footballers from the al-Wathbah club after two mortars exploded next to a stadium in Damascus, killing one player. Photograph: Anonymous/AP
Syrian footballers from the al-Wathbah club after two mortars exploded next to a stadium in Damascus, killing one player. Photograph: Anonymous/AP

Syrian footballer killed in Damascus mortar attack

This article is more than 11 years old
Player from Homs-based club was getting ready for practice when two mortars exploded near a stadium in central Damascus

Two mortars exploded next to a football stadium in central Damascus on Wednesday, killing one player.

The Sana state news agency said the explosives landed in a complex housing Tishrin stadium and a hotel in the Baramkeh neighbourhood, killing a player from the Homs-based al-Wathbah club. He was wounded inside the hotel as players were getting ready for practice and died later at a hospital.

State TV broadcast video of what it said was the hotel. The explosion blew out the windows on the first floor and shattered glass covered three beds in one of the rooms. A bloodied duffle bag lay on the floor.

The mortar attack was the second in as many days in Damascus. On Tuesday, two mortars exploded near one of President Bashar al-Assad's palaces, but no one was hurt.

Players from the al-Wathbah team who witnessed the attack identified the dead player as Youssef Suleiman. The 19-year-old striker had been a youth international. They said he was the father of a six-month-old baby.

Suleiman's team-mates said the mortars landed in front of the hotel. "We were collecting our things about to head to the stadium when we heard the first explosion and the windows were blown off," said Ali Ghosn, 20. "Youssef was hit in the neck. We ran out to the corridor when the second explosion struck and I saw Youssef fall down bleeding from his neck."

Three other players were wounded, including one who was reported to be in critical condition.

The attack occurred a few hours before the team was to play a league game against the Hama-based al-Mawaair club. The game was postponed after the mortar strike.

The nine-team league has been delayed several times due to fighting, but got under way last week with all matches scheduled to be played in the heavily guarded capital in front of empty stands.

"We are football players," Ghosn said. "These people don't want what is good for Syria. They are criminals."

Assad has tried to maintain an image as the head of a functioning state even as rebels edge closer to the heart of Damascus and targeted attacks suggest rebels may be trying to shatter the sense of normality he has tried to portray in the capital.

Damascus has largely been spared the violence that has left other cities in ruins. In recent weeks, however, rebels who established footholds in the suburbs have clashed with government forces, pushing closer to the centre of the capital from the east and south.

The United Nations says at least 70,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011 as an uprising against Assad's rule.

More on this story

More on this story

  • Syrian government blames terrorists for Damascus bomb that killed dozens

  • Syria crisis: Huge explosion rocks Damascus, dozens dead - Thursday 21 February

  • Syria in ruins: civilians suffer as military stalemate drags on

  • Syria crisis: Mortars hit Damascus stadium - Wednesday 20 February

  • Qatar criticises EU over Syria arms embargo

  • In a small corner of Syria, rebels attempt to reconcile

  • Syria crisis: 'Missile strike levels Aleppo neighbourhood' - Tuesday 19 February

  • Syria in ruins: civilians suffer as military stalemate drags on

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