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Suicide bomber kills at least 13 in Syrian church near Damascus during mass

Suicide bomber kills at least 13 in Syrian church near Damascus during mass

Toronto Star5 hours ago

DWEIL'A, Syria (AP) — A suicide bomber in Syria on Sunday detonated himself inside a church filled with people, killing at least 13, 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. SANA, citing the Health Ministry said that at least 53 others were wounded. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were at least 19 peopled killed and dozens of others wounded, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties.

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Suicide bomber kills at least 22 in Greek Orthodox church in Syria during Divine Liturgy
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In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, journalists and Civil Defence workers inspect the damage inside Mar Elias church where a suicide bomber detonated himself in Dweil'a in the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday June 22, 2025. (SANA via AP) DAMASCUS, Syria — A suicide bomber in Syria opened fire then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church filled with people praying on Sunday, killing at least 22 and wounding 63 others, state media reported. The attack took place in Dweil'a on the outskirts of Damascus inside the Mar Elias Church, according to state media SANA, citing the Health Ministry for the toll of dead and wounded. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were at least 19 peopled killed and dozens wounded, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties. The attack on the church was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus under its de facto Islamist rule is trying to win the support of minorities. As President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country. No group immediately claimed responsibility Sunday. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said in a news conference that their preliminary investigation points to the extremist Islamic State group. The ministry said one gunmen entered the church, fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosives vest, echoing some witness testimonies. 'The security of places of worship is a red line,' he said, adding that IS and remaining members of the ousted Assad government are trying to destabilize Syria. Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack. 'This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,' he said 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.' Witnesses said the gunman with his face covered entered and fired at the people. When a crowd charged at him to remove him from the church, he detonated his explosives at the entrance. Syria's Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Kabawat, the country's Christian and female minister, met with the clergy at the church in the evening to express her condolences. 'People were praying safely under the eyes of God,' said Father Fadi Ghattas, who said he saw at least 20 people killed with his own eyes. 'There were 350 people praying at the church.' However, Meletius Shahati, a church priest, said there was a second gunman who shot at the church door before the other person detonated himself. Issam Nasr who was praying at the church said he saw people 'blown to bits.' 'We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers,' he said. 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 Syrian state media SANA showed the church's pews covered in debris and blood. Abdulrahman Shaheen and Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press Chehayeb reported from Beirut

At least 20 killed in suicide bomber attack during service at Syrian Greek Orthodox church
At least 20 killed in suicide bomber attack during service at Syrian Greek Orthodox church

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At least 20 killed in suicide bomber attack during service at Syrian Greek Orthodox church

A suicide bomber in Syria opened fire then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church filled with people praying on Sunday, killing at least 20 and wounding 52 others, state media reported. The attack took place in Dweil'a on the outskirts of Damascus inside the Mar Elias Church, according to state media SANA, citing the Health Ministry for the toll of dead and wounded. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were at least 19 people killed and dozens wounded, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties. The attack on the church was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus, under its de facto Islamist rule, is trying to win the support of minorities. As President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. No group immediately claimed responsibility Sunday, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said an extremist from the Islamic State group entered the church, fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosives vest, echoing some witness testimonies. Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack. 'This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together,' he said 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.' Witnesses said the gunman, with his face covered, entered and fired at the people. When a crowd charged at him to remove him from the church, he detonated his explosives at the entrance. 'People were praying safely under the eyes of God,' said Father Fadi Ghattas, who said he saw at least 20 people killed with his own eyes. 'There were 350 people praying at the church.' However, Meletius Shahati, a church priest, said there was a second gunman who shot at the church door before the other person detonated himself. Issam Nasr, who was praying at the church,h said he saw people 'blown to bits.' 'We have never held a knife in our lives. All we ever carried were our prayers,' he said. Security forces and first responders rushed to the church. Panicked survivors wailed, as one lady fell to her knees and burst into tears — Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .

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