Suicide bombing at Damascus church kills 20, authorities say
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Damascus church hit in suicide bombing
At least 20 people have been killed and 52 wounded in the attack. The Ministry of Health says the suicide bomber was affiliated with ISIS. A priest at the church said he first heard gunshots outside, followed by more shots inside the church about two minutes later. He added that two attackers entered and blew themselves up. It was the first suicide bombing in Syria in years and comes as Damascus is trying to win the support of minorities. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered condolences and expressed “strong condemnation of these criminal acts” The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed outrage at what he called a “heinous crime” US President Donald Trump said “these terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving” The National was at the scene of the blast and saw widespread destruction and shattered glass. The attack took place at Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of the capital, Damascus, on Sunday afternoon. At least one suicide bomber opened fire outside the church before detonating a bomb inside.
The Ministry of Health told state media that at least 20 people were killed and 52 wounded in an updated toll “from the terrorist attack that targeted Mar Elias Church in the Dweila area of Damascus”.
“A suicide bomber affiliated with the terrorist group ISIS entered Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of the capital, Damascus, where he opened fire before detonating himself with an explosive vest,” state media reported.
Damascus church hit in suicide bombing – in pictures
People and rescuers inspect the damage after a suicide attack at the Mar Elias church, in the Dweila area of Damascus. AFP Syrian civil defence workers remove debris inside the church. AP It was the first suicide bombing in Syria in years. AFP At least one suicide bomber opened fire outside the church before detonating an explosive vest inside. AFP The Ministry of Health has said more than 50 people were wounded in the attack. AFP People gather near the church after the attack. AFP People and rescuers inspect the damage at the church. AFP Syrian security forces stand guard outside the church. State media says the suicide bomber was affiliated with ISIS. AP There were about 400 people inside the church at the time of the attack. AP The attack comes as Damascus is trying to win the support of minorities. AP
There was swift condemnation from outside Syria. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered condolences and expressed “strong condemnation of these criminal acts”, state news agency Wam reported.
The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed outrage at what he called a “heinous crime”. Tom Barrack, a Syria envoy for US President Donald Trump, said “these terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving
Witness account
A witness confirmed to The National that a gunman opened fire on people before entering the church and detonating a bomb inside. Ambulances rushed to the scene.
“I was in my car when I heard an explosion just as I passed the church. People started screaming and I heard gun shots,” one witness told The National.
“Cars and ambulances started arriving. I saw many people injured and others may have been killed.”
People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a suicide attack at the Mar Elias church in Damascus. AFP
A priest at the church said he first heard gunshots outside, followed by more shots inside the church about two minutes later. He added that two attackers entered and blew themselves up.
“There were around 400 people inside the church,” he said.
The National was at the scene of the blast and saw widespread destruction and shattered glass. The attack was the first of its kind in Syria in years and comes as Damascus is trying to win the support of minorities.
As President Ahmad Al Shara attempts to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country.
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Twenty killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church
At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus. It was the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December. A security source said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who detonated his explosive vest. Islamic State has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad’s fall, but this is the first to succeed.
At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria’s capital Damascus, health authorities and security sources said.
It was the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December.
Syria’s interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of Islamic State. He entered the church on Sunday, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, a ministry statement added.
At least 20 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church. (AP PHOTO)
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.
Islamic State has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad’s fall, but this was the first to succeed, another security source told Reuters.
Syria’s state news agency cited the health ministry as saying that 52 people were also injured in the blast.
A livestream from the site by Syria’s civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from inside the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered 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.
Syrian authorities say the suicide bomber was affiliated with Islamic State terrorist organisation. (EPA PHOTO)
“We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, 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.”
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.
The latest assault underscores the group’s continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts.
Twenty killed in suicide bombing at Damascus church
It was the first suicide bombing in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December. The suicide bomber was a member of Islamic State, the interior ministry said. A security source said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Assad before taking over in January, has said he will protect minorities.
Syria’s interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of Islamic State. He entered the church on Sunday, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, a ministry statement added.
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up.
Islamic State has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad’s fall, but this was the first to succeed, another security source told Reuters.
Syria’s state news agency cited the health ministry as saying that 52 people were also injured in the blast.
A livestream from the site by Syria’s civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from inside the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered 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.
“We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, 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.”
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.
The latest assault underscores the group’s continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts.