A suicide bomber in Syria on Sunday detonated himself inside a Greek Orthodox church filled with people, killing at least 20, Syrian state media reported.
The explosion in Dweil’a in the outskirts of Damascus took place as people were praying inside the Mar Elias Church. The Syrian-Arab News Agency (SANA), in citing the Health Ministry, said that at least 53 others were wounded.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based information office that monitors cases of human rights infringement in Syria, said there were at least 19 people killed and dozens of others wounded but did not supply exact numbers. Certain local media sources reported that children were among the casualties.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the attack on the church was the first of its kind in Syria in years and comes as Damascus attempts to win over the support of its minorities under its de facto Islamist rule. As President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns as to the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country, the AP notes.
No group immediately claimed responsibility on Sunday, but a Syrian Interior Ministry respresentative, in echoing witness testimonies, said an extremist from the Islamic State group entered the church and fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosive vest.
“This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,” the representative wrote 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,” Khoury told the AP.
Furthermore, a witness who identified himself as Rawad also told the AP he witnessed the attacker who was accompanied by two others flee as he was was driving near the church. “He was shooting at the church…he then went inside the church and blew himself up,” the witness said. However, Meletius Shahati, a church priest, said there was a second gunman who shot at the church door before the other individual detonated himself.
Security forces and first-responders rushed to the church. Panicked survivors wailed, as one lady fell to her knees and burst into tears. A photo circulated by SANA showed the church’s pews covered in debris and blood.
Greece condemns the “heinous terrorist attack” on Greek Orthodox Church
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently condemned the deadly suicide bombing attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus, labeling it a “heinous terrorist attack.”
In an official statement, the Ministry underscored that religious sites must never be targets of violence and terrorism. It urged the Syrian transitional authorities to take swift action to hold those responsible accountable and implement measures to protect Christian and other religious communities.
Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“We unequivocally condemn the heinous terrorist suicide bombing attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in Damascus, Syria,” the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained.
“Religious sites must never be targets of terrorism. Everyone has the right to practice their faith in complete peace and security. We demand that the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures that will guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear.”
“We express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims,” the statement concluded.
Foreign Minister Gerapetritis will brief his EU partners tomorrow at the Foreign Affairs Council, it was announced.
Related: Greece Sounds Alarm on Syria Violence, Pushes for Christian Minority Rights
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