At least 22 worshippers have been killed and 63 wounded in a suicide bomb attack at a Christian church in Syria.
The bomber opened fire as people were praying inside Mar Elias Church, in the Dweila neighbourhood of Damascus, before detonating his vest.
Some children are thought to be among the wounded, according to state media.
Horrifying footage showed blood splattered over the shattered pews and masonry walls following the blast.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Syria’s interior ministry said a member of the Islamic State group was behind Sunday’s attack.
‘A suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group entered the Saint Elias church… opened fire then blew himself up with an explosive belt,’ the ministry said in a statement.
The attack was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus under its de facto Islamist rule is trying to win the support of minorities.
As President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country.
The bomber opened fire as people were praying inside Mar Elias Church, in the Dweila neighbourhood of Damascus, before detonating his vest
Syrian security forces stand guard outside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweil’a
The attack comes 24 hours after Syria’s security forces detained Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of toppled leader Bashar al-Assad.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab offered condolences for the victims and said that ‘specialised teams from the ministry have begun investigations into the circumstances of this reprehensible crime’.
‘These terrorist acts will not stop the efforts of the Syrian state in achieving civil peace,’ Khattab said according to a statement.
A witness who identified himself as Rawad said he saw the attacker who was accompanied by two others who fled as he was driving near the church.
‘He was shooting at the church – he then went inside the church and blew himself up,’ he said.
Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack.
‘This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,’ he said in a post on X.
‘We will to 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.’
Security forces and first-responders rushed to the church. Panicked survivors wailed, as one lady fell to her knees and burst into tears.
A member of the Syrian security force inspects the damage after a blast rocked the Mar Elias Church
Rescuers inspect the damage at the site of the suicide bomb attack at the Mar Elias Church
People and civil defence members inspect the damage after a blast rocked the Mar Elias Church
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Assad before taking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities.
France’s foreign ministry condemned the ‘abject, terrorist’ attack, while Greek’s foreign ministry called it ‘abhorrent’.
Foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine reiterated the country’s commitment to ‘a transition in Syria that allows Syrians, whatever their religion, to live in peace and security in a free, united, pluralistic, prosperous, stable and sovereign Syria’.
The Greek foreign ministry said in a statement: ‘We demand that the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures to guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear.’
UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, 69, ‘condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack at St. Elias Church… which killed and injured civilians who were attending mass’, said a statement from his office.
‘He expresses his outrage at this heinous crime.’
Pedersen noted that the Syrian interim authorities had attributed the attack to IS, and ‘calls for a full investigation and action by the authorities,’ the statement added.
The Norwegian diplomat sent his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the recovery of those injured.
Islamic State had previously targeted religious minorities, including a major attack on Shiite pilgrims in Sayeda Zainab in 2016 – one of the most notorious bombings during Assad’s rule.
A view of heavy damage after an explosion at the Mar Elias Chuch, in the Dweila neighbourhood of Damascus
Syria’s interior ministry said a member of the Islamic State group was behind Sunday’s attack (Pictured here is some of damage caused by the bomb attack)
A livestream from the site by Syria’s civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church
Last month, IS claimed its first attack on Syria’s new government forces.
Also last month, Syrian authorities said they arrested members of an IS cell near Damascus, accusing them of preparing attacks, while another anti-IS operation in the northern city of Aleppo saw the death of one security officer and three IS members.
A photo circulated by Syrian state media SANA showed the church’s pews covered in debris and blood.
Syria’s Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Kabawat, the country’s Christian and female minister, met with the clergy at the church in the evening to express her condolences.
‘People were praying safely under the eyes of God,’ said Father Fadi Ghattas, who said he saw at least 20 people killed with his own eyes. ‘There were 350 people praying at the church.’
Meletius Shahati, a church priest, said there was a second gunman who shot at the church door before the other person detonated himself.
Issam Nasr, who was praying at the church, said he saw people ‘blown to bits.’
‘We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers,’ he said.
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.
A livestream from the site by Syria’s civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Assad before taking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities during his tenure.
