DAMASCUS, 29 April 2004 — A mysterious attack that killed four people in the capital was an “isolated incident” of terrorism that was brought quickly under control, according to official sources here. As shocked residents swept away glass and debris caused by a bombing followed by a firefight between unidentified gunmen and Syrian police, they seemed to be struggling with fears that international terrorism has reached their long tranquil country or that homegrown militancy could re-emerge.

“This is something completely alien to Syrian society,” said Abdel-Fattah Omar, a 52-year-old Syrian businessman. “I honestly don’t know who could have done it.”

The violence Tuesday was some of the worst in Syria since the 1980s, when the government put down an insurgency by militants. The last serious outbreak in Damascus was on New Year’s Eve, 1997, when an explosion ripped through a central bus station, killing 11 people and injuring 40.

Authorities said four gunmen detonated a bomb placed under a car in the Syrian capital’s diplomatic quarter Tuesday before firing bullets and grenades at Syrian security forces. The government said two attackers, a policeman and a civilian were killed in an ensuing clash. Two gunmen were badly wounded. No immediate claims of responsibility were made.

“This was an isolated incident,” Tourism Minister Saadallah Agha Al-Qalaa was quick to say. “Syria is a safe country and that’s how it will stay,” he told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

He praised Syrian security forces for their “professional” work which he said succeeded in “limiting the damage and number of casualties which could have been very high.”

Syria’s state-run media was prompt, reporting the clash about an hour after it happened. An Interior Ministry official called the attackers terrorists and vowed tough measures against anyone who tries to undermine security.

Hours later, Syrian television showed footage of a raided militant hide-out in the nearby town of Khan Al-Sheih in which police were said to have found rocket propelled grenades and guns.