AhlulBayt News Agency: A deadly explosion struck Mar Elias Church in Damascus on Sunday, as a suicide bomber targeted the Orthodox Christian congregation during mass, according to multiple media reports.
The Syrian Health Ministry confirmed that at least 20 people were killed and 52 others wounded in the attack, as reported by the SANA news agency.
Graphic videos circulating online show the church’s interior severely damaged, with bloodstained floors and bodies scattered across the site.
Eyewitnesses told The National that the explosion was followed by gunfire, though the source of the shooting remains unclear.
One witness recounted hearing the blast while driving past the church, followed by screams and the arrival of ambulances. He described seeing numerous injured individuals and feared that many had died.
The Syrian Interior Ministry attributed the attack to the Daesh (ISIS) terrorist group, stating that the assailant opened fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive belt.
A priest at the church offered a slightly different account, saying two attackers opened fire outside before entering and detonating themselves. He noted that around 400 people were inside the church at the time.
/129
Your Comment