Blast near Damascus square kills 15, state TV reports By Saad Abedine and Jason Hanna, CNN April 8, 2013 -- Updated 1150 GMT (1950 HKT) People inspect the scene of a deadly car bomb explosion which rocked central Damascus on Monday afternoon. (CNN) -- A car bomb Monday afternoon ripped through an area near one of the largest public squares in Damascus, Syria, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens of others, Syrian state TV reported. Gruesome video on state TV showed mangled bodies near Sabaa Bahrat Square, blood and rubble in the streets, significant damage to cars and buildings, and thick smoke. State TV reported that the blast was near a school. The square is surrounded by state buildings including the Central Bank of Syria. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the blast. Syrian state TV reported that authorities preliminarily believe that the explosion was "caused by a terrorist suicide bomber in a car." READ MORE: Syrian airstrike kills 15, including children, opposition says READ MORE: Opposition: March deadliest month in Syrian civil war