At least 20 people have been killed and 52 others wounded in a suicide bombing at a church on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria's interior ministry has said. The attacker entered Mar Elias Church in Dweila during a service and opened fire with a weapon before detonating an explosive vest, the ministry said in a statement. It added that he was affiliated with the jihadist group Islamic State (IS). There was no immediate claim from the group itself. The Syrian Civil Defence - whose emergency teams are widely known as the White Helmets - posted photos and video from inside the church showing a heavily damaged altar, pews covered in broken glass and a bloodied floor. One person told AFP news agency outside Mar Elias that "someone entered carrying a weapon" and began shooting. "[People] tried to stop him before he blew himself up," he added. A worker at a nearby shop said: "We saw fire in the church and the remains of wooden benches thrown all the way to the entrance." Security forces have condoned off the area around the church and are investigating the attack, according to the interior ministry. It was the first such attack in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebel forces in December. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa - whose Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is a former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria - has repeatedly promised to protect religious and ethnic minorities. However, the country has been rocked by two waves of deadly sectarian violence in recent months.
Suicide bombing at Damascus church kills 20, authorities say
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"Suicide Bombing at Church in Damascus Kills 20 and Wounds 52"
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TruthLens AI Summary
A tragic suicide bombing occurred at Mar Elias Church in Dweila, located on the outskirts of Damascus, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals and injuring 52 others, according to Syria's interior ministry. The attack unfolded during a church service when the assailant, identified as being affiliated with the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), entered the premises armed and opened fire. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as congregants attempted to thwart the attacker before he detonated an explosive vest. The Syrian Civil Defence, known for their emergency response efforts, shared images and videos from the church, showcasing extensive damage including a shattered altar, scattered debris, and a blood-stained floor. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the situation escalated rapidly, with one person recalling that they saw flames emerging from inside the church as wooden benches were hurled towards the entrance due to the explosion.
In the aftermath of the bombing, security forces cordoned off the area around the church to conduct an investigation into the attack. This incident marks the first suicide bombing in Damascus since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces in December. The interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who leads the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has historical ties to al-Qaeda, has made assurances regarding the safety of religious and ethnic minorities in the region. Despite these promises, the recent months have seen Syria experiencing two significant waves of sectarian violence, raising concerns about the security and stability of various communities within the country. The bombing has heightened fears of further attacks and sectarian strife as the nation continues to grapple with its complex and tumultuous landscape of conflict and unrest.
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