Police officers targeted in deadly Damascus car bombing

The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack that killed several people at a police officer's club in Damascus, the Syrian capital.

There were conflicting reports about the number of casualties caused by the blast in the Masaken Barza district, with the Syrian interior ministry initally putting the death toll at eight.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, said that at least nine people were killed and 20 people wounded in the blast, while Syrian state television said three people had been killed and 14 others wounded.

In a statement circulated on social media, IS said that 20 people had died and another 40 been injured and said one of its members had detonated an explosives-laden car at the police club.

Syrian state television said a car had tried to ram into the police officer's club in the area, but was stopped by guards with the driver then detonating the explosives. The Observatory reported that the attacker had been wearing a police uniform.

Car bombs have been used regularly in Syria's war, often to devastating effect, with IS claiming responsibility for a number of previous bombings in Damascus and the surrounding area.

An IS-claimed multiple bomb attack near the Sayyida Zeinab shrine outside the city killed at least 71 people last month.

The attack comes with pro-government forces engaged in a major offensive backed by Russian air strikes against rebel groups around the northern city of Aleppo.