At least 45 people were killed and 110 wounded on Sunday by a car bomb and two suicide bombers in the blasts in the mainly Shi’ite neighbourhood in Damascus, Syria’s Interior Ministry reported.

The Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The ministry said that “more than 45 people were killed and dozens were injured.” while police claims that the death toll is set to rise because “some of those injured are in a critical condition”.

State television showed footage of burning buildings and wrecked cars in the area.

Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaki was quoted as saying the attacks were prompted by “terror groups” who sought to “raise their morale after a string of defeats” by the army, as Reuters reports.