DAMASCUS, Syria: At least 20 people were killed and 52 others wounded after a suicide bomber detonated himself inside a church in Damascus on Sunday, Syria’s health ministry said as reported by state media.
“The number of victims in the terrorist attack that targeted the Saint Elias church in the Dwelaa area of Damascus has risen to 20 dead and 52 wounded,” said a health ministry statement carried by state news agency SANA.
The explosion in Dwelaa on the outskirts of Damascus took place at the Saint Elias Church.
“A suicide attacker detonates an explosive belt inside the Mar Elias church in the Dwelaa area of Damascus,” state TV reported, adding that security forces cordoned off the area.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said an extremist from the Islamic State group entered the church, fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosives vest, The Associated Press reported.
Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack.
“This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together,” he said on X. “We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship … and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety.”
Church Bishop Moussa Khoury said the attacker also threw a grenade into the church during the afternoon Mass.
“He started shooting, went and then he blew up the church,” he said as quoted by The Associated Press.
