A devastating suicide bombing at a Greek Orthodox church in Syria on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 22 individuals and left 63 others injured, according to local reports. The attack unfolded as worshippers were gathered for prayer inside the Mar Elias Church, located in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus.
Details of the attack
This tragic incident marks the first bombing of its kind in Syria in several years, occurring amidst ongoing efforts by the Syrian government to garner support from minority communities under its Islamist regime. Images released by SANA, the Syrian state media, depicted the horror of the scene, showing church pews stained with blood and littered with debris.
While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, preliminary investigations conducted by the Syrian Interior Ministry pointed towards the extremist Islamic State group. According to officials, a lone gunman entered the church, opened fire on the congregation, and subsequently detonated explosives strapped to his body, corroborating witness accounts.
“The security of places of worship is a red line,”
stated a ministry official, emphasizing that both IS and remnants of the ousted Assad government are actively working to destabilize the region. Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa denounced the incident as a terrorist act, asserting, “This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together.” He reiterated the state’s commitment to equal citizenship and vowed to combat criminal organizations threatening societal safety.
Witness accounts and response
As first responders and security personnel rushed to the scene, the chaos and devastation were palpable. Eyewitnesses described the harrowing moment when the masked gunman opened fire, triggering panic among the worshippers. Reports indicate that when a group attempted to subdue the assailant, he detonated his explosives at the church entrance.
Among the casualties were reports suggesting that children were included in the toll. Father Fadi Ghattas, a priest at the church, recounted witnessing the horrifying aftermath, stating, “People were praying safely under the eyes of God.” Additionally, another church priest claimed the presence of a second gunman who fired at the church door prior to the explosion.
Later that evening, Syria’s Social Affairs and Labour Minister, Hind Kabawat, met with clergy at the church to convey her condolences. As President Ahmad al-Sharaa faces challenges in maintaining authority throughout the nation, concerns grow regarding the existence of sleeper cells linked to extremist factions in this war-ravaged country.