At least 15 people were killed and 53 others wounded Monday when an explosive-laden vehicle went off in the heart of Syria's capital Damascus, witnesses said.

The suicide bombing struck the parking lot of the Central Bank of Syria, located between Saba'a Bahrat Square and Shahbander Street in central Damascus, leaving at least 15 people killed.

Witnesses told Xinhua that an adjacent school's windows and doors were smashed as the school kids were evacuated with injuries reported.

The powerful explosion was heard several kilometers away from the site and its force shattered windows in the area, sent debris flying for hundreds of meters, and blew doors off their hinges.

Inside the parking lot, the blast caused a two-meter crater and blackened the facade of the rear part of the bank.

Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi and Information Minister Omran al- Zoubi visited the site while the paramedics and army troops were removing the rubbles in search for injured people.

No one has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack but previous similar ones bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida.

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