Syria blames bombing on Islamist extremists

The weekend bombing that killed 17 people in Damascus was a “suicide terrorist” attack linked to an Islamist extremist group, the official state news agency SANA reported Monday.

The preliminary investigations indicated that the car entered “through the border center of a neighboring Arab state” on Friday, the day before the attack.

The 440 pound (200 kilos) car bomb exploded in near a security checkpoint on a road to Damascus airport leaving 17 dead and 14 wounded in what Interior Minister General Bassam Abdel Majid called "a terrorist act."

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, a rare occurrence in a country where security forces rule with an iron fist.

Officials are conducting DNA tests to determine the identity of the suicide bomber, who the news agency said was linked to a “Takfir” (infidel) group, referring to Islamist extremists who condone violence against other Muslims that don’t share their views. The agency added that members of the group had previously been arrested.

Investigations are continuing and a search is being conducted for suspects in hiding, according to the report.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Sunday condemned the “criminal terrorist” explosion, which was the deadliest in two decades. Majid said all casualties were civilians.

In February, a top Hezbollah commander was killed in a Damascus car bombing.

Analysts said on Sunday that the attack could have been aimed at splitting Syria's alliance with Iran or deterring it from becoming too friendly with the West.