Suicide bomber in the Syrian church kills at least 20

Dweil’a, Syria – A suicidal terrorist in Syria The inaugurated fire after detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek orthodox church full of people who pray on Sunday, killing at least 20 and hurting another 52, state media reported.

The attack took place in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus within the Church of Mar Elias, according to the healthy state media, citing the Ministry of Health for the toll of dead and wounded. War monitor based in Great Britain The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said there were at least 19 people killed and dozens of other injured, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that the children were among the victims.

The attack on the Church was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and occurs as Damascus under his de facto Islamist government is trying to win the support of minorities. As President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to exercise authority throughout the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeping cells of extremist groups In the country devastated by war.

No group immediately demanded responsibility on Sunday, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said that an extremist of the Islamic State group entered the Church, shot people there before detonating with an explosive vest, echoing some witness testimonies.

Syrian information minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling him a terrorist attack.

“This cowardly act goes against the civic values ​​that gather us,” he said in X. “We will not go back to our commitment to the equality of citizenship … and we also affirm the promise of the state of exercising all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and protect society from all attacks that threaten their security.”

The witnesses said the gunman with the covered face entered and shot people. When a crowd accused him of getting him out of the church, he detonated his explosives at the entrance.

“People prayed safely under the eyes of God,” said Father Fadi Ghattas, who said he saw at least 20 people killed with their own eyes. “There were 350 people praying in the Church.”

However, Meletius Shahati, a priest of the church, said there was a second armed man who shot at the church door before the other person detonated.

Issam Nasr, who was praying in the church, said he saw the people “flying.”

“We have never held a knife in our lives. All we carry was our prayers,” he said.

The security forces and the first responders rushed to the Church. Panic survivors cried, when a lady fell on her knees and started crying. A photo circulated by the healthy state media showed the church banks covered with rubble and blood.

• Syria
• Damascus