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IS Suicide Bomber Kills 13, Injures 53 Inside Damascus Church

IS Suicide Bomber Kills 13, Injures 53 Inside Damascus Church

Bloomberg9 hours ago

A suicide bomber hailing from the extremist group Islamic State blew himself up inside a church in Damascus, a deadly attack that adds to Syria's sectarian woes as the war-torn country struggles to contain violence following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Thirteen civilians were killed and 53 were injured in the attack that targeted Mar Elias Church in the Syrian capital's Dweila district, the heath ministry told state-news agency Sana. Wearing an explosive vest, the assailant opened fire before detonating himself, according to the interior ministry which confirmed his affiliation to IS.

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Syria: 22 killed after suicide bomber opens fire at church - and then detonates explosive vest
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At least 22 people have been killed after a suicide bomber opened fire at a church in Syria - and then detonated an explosive vest. This is the first such incident since Bashar al Assad was toppled in December, and officials claim the attacker was a member of Islamic State. It happened at a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, with estimates suggesting that 350 worshippers were praying there at the time. Witnesses said the perpetrator had his face covered when he began shooting - and blew himself up as crowds attempted to remove him from the building. A security source told Reuters that two men were involved in the attack, with a priest saying he saw a second gunman at the entrance. Officials say 63 people were injured, and children were among the casualties. Syria's information minister, Hamza Mostafa, condemned the terrorist attack - writing on X: "This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together. "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 organisations." Read more world news: Reports suggest that IS has attempted to attack several churches in Syria since Assad fell, but this is the first time they have succeeded. Footage filmed by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction inside the church - including bloodied floors and shattered pews. The Greek foreign ministry says it "unequivocally condemns the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing", and called on Syria "to guarantee the safety" of Christians with new measures.

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The Islamic State is believed to be behind a deadly suicide bombing that happened at a Greek Orthodox church in Syria on Sunday. At least 22 people were killed, and 63 others were injured in the attack that took place at the Mar Elias Church in Dweil'a – on the outskirts of Damascus. It reportedly began while people were praying. The perpetrator first opened fire on the worshipers, before detonating himself. While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the mass-casualty attack, Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba suggested ISIS as a likely culprit following a preliminary investigation. "The security of places of worship is a red line," Al-Baba said further, castigating ISIS and what remains of the former government of Ba'athist dictator Bashar al-Assad as actors trying to destabilize Syria. The country's foreign ministry echoed Al-Baba, describing the attack as "a desperate attempt to undermine national coexistence and to destabilize the country." The attack comes amid a time of heightened political unrest in the notoriously volatile Middle East – less than 24 hours after the U.S. launched airstrikes on three of Iran's top nuclear facilities. Israel launched a series of similar attacks, including attacks on the Iranian capital, Tehran, in the weeks prior.

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At least 20 people have been killed and 52 more are injured after a 'terrorist attack' on a Greek Orthodox church in the Syrian capital on Sunday, according to the country's health ministry. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Syria's Ministry of Interior Affairs told CNN that it was carried out by a 'suicide bomber affiliated with the terrorist organization ISIS.' He opened fire on the congregation of Mar Elias Church in Damascus, before 'detonating himself using an explosive vest,' the ministry said in a statement. A mass was being held at the church at the time of the attack, according to Syria's state news agency SANA. A video circulating on Syrian social media from inside the church shows dead bodies, significant destruction, shattered glass and broken chairs in the area where mass was being held, with blood visible throughout the scene. Syria's civil defense, popularly known as the White Helmets, said emergency teams were working to transfer the bodies to hospitals and secure the area. 'The treacherous hand of evil struck' on Sunday, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch said in a statement, writing that 'an explosion occurred at the entrance of the church, resulting in the deaths of numerous martyrs and causing injuries to many others who were inside the church or in its immediate vicinity.' 'We offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of the martyrs, for the healing of the wounded, and for the consolation of our grieving faithful. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our faith and, through that steadfastness, our rejection of all fear and intimidation,' the church said. The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, expressed 'outrage' at the 'heinous crime,' his office said in a statement. 'Mr. Pedersen calls on all to unite in rejecting terrorism, extremism, incitement and the targeting of any community in Syria. He sends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and his hope for the recovery of those injured,' the statement said. The United States' Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, called the attack an act of 'cowardice,' saying in a statement that it has 'no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving.' The foreign ministries of Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands also spoke out in condemnation of the attack. CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report.

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