Latest news with #HamzaMostafa
Sky News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
22 killed after suicide bomber opens fire at church in Syria - and then detonates explosive vest
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." 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.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Suicide bomber kills at least 22 in packed Syrian church near Damascus
A suicide bomber in Syria detonated himself inside a church filled with people on Sunday, killing at least 22 and wounding 63, state media reported. The explosion in Dweil'a on the outskirts of Damascus took place as people were praying inside the Mar Elias Church. SANA, citing the health ministry said at least 53 people 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. The attack is the first of its kind in Syria in years and comes as Damascus under 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 are concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country. No group immediately claimed responsibility on 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 it as a terrorist attack. 'This cowardly act goes against the civic values that bring us together. We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship,' he said on X, 'and we also affirm the state's pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organisations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety.' Interior ministry spokesperson Noureddine Al-Baba said a preliminary investigation pointed to the Islamic State group. "The security of places of worship is a red line," he said, alleging that the extremist group and remaining members of the ousted Assad government are trying to destabilise Syria. Bishop Moussa Khoury said that the attacker threw a grenade, 'started shooting, went and then he blew up the church'. Social affairs minister Hind Kabawat met with the clergy at the church in the evening to express her condolences. "People were praying safely under the eyes of God," Father Fadi Ghattas, who said he saw at least 20 people killed with his own eyes. "There were 350 people praying at the church." A witness who identified himself as Rawad told the Associated Press he saw the attacker accompanied by two other men who fled as he was driving near the church. 'He was shooting at the church,' he said, 'he then went inside the church and blew himself up.' However, Meletius Shahati, a church priest, said there was a second gunman who shot at the church door before the other person detonated himself. Security forces and emergency 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.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
At Least 15 Killed in Suicide Bombing at Damascus Church
At least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighborhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, security sources said. Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was an ISIS member. He entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive vest, the ministry added in a statement. A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two men were involved in the attack, including the one who blew himself up. Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as putting the preliminary casualty toll at nine dead and 13 injured. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties. A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defense, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church pews and masonry. 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 in a post 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.'
SBS Australia
23-06-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Suicide bomb attack devastates Damascus church
Warning: Some listeners may find this content distressing. A suicide bomber has struck a packed Greek Orthodox church in Damascus, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 50 during Sunday Mass at Mar Elias Church in Dweila, a residential district on the city's outskirts. Syria's Interior Ministry says the attacker opened fire before detonating his explosive vest at the entrance. A second assailant may have been involved. Local reports suggest children were among the victims in one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since former President Bashar al-Assad's fall. The Syrian Information Minister, Hamza Mostafa, condemned the attack as an act of terrorism. Father Fadi Ghattas, was leading the Mass, when the attack took place. 'We were having Mass, and people were praying peacefully, under the eyes of God. Suddenly, someone came in wearing a vest and aiming a weapon. The young men rushed at him to get him out of the church, and at the door he blew himself up.' He says hundreds of people were at the church. 'There were about 350 people inside the church praying. So many people, I don't even know. I personally carried over twenty bodies with my own hands. May God have mercy on us and on them.' Survivors described a scene of utter devastation, with blood, shattered pews, and torn limbs scattered across the floor. Issam Nasr was at the church when the tragedy unfolded. 'We had just finished the prayer and were on our way out, while people were still inside. Then someone masked and armed came in carrying his weapon. He opened fire on the people and killed many, the church was full. People rushed at him and surrounded him, then he blew himself up at the church door. Bodies were torn apart and scattered and the church collapsed.' No group immediately claimed responsibility, but authorities say the attacker was a member of the Islamic State group. If confirmed, it would mark the group's first successful bombing in Damascus since al-Assad was overthrown in December by an Islamist-led rebel coalition. While IS lost its territorial strongholds years ago, sleeper cells continue to operate in parts of Syria, particularly in areas with strained or fractured governance. Mar Elias was not chosen at random. The church is a symbol for Syria's dwindling Christian minority. The latest assault underscores the group's continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counter-terrorism efforts. Father Meletius Shattah was also at the church when the gunman burst in on Sunday. "We started to hear gunfire outside the church for almost two minutes. It was intermittent at first, then the shooting moved to the church yard and eventually inside the church. Suddenly, two people entered with explosive belts and detonated them inside the church during the Mass we hold every Sunday.' He accuses the new Syrian government of failing to protect its citizens. 'The government always say these are individual acts that the government is not responsible for. But unfortunately our state was not protecting us from these individual acts, it was not protecting us at all. This gave us the impression that the individual acts became institutional acts and not only individual acts and we are not used to asking for protection from anyone. We always lived under the protection of our God. However, we are citizens in this country and it is the responsibility of the state to protect us, this is not a privilege that our state gives to us but it is its responsibility. The attack has reignited fears about security in the capital, now under transitional rule, and the lingering threat posed by extremist groups like I-S. President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the offensive to oust al-Assad and assumed leadership in January, has repeatedly pledged to safeguard Syria's minorities. But Sunday's events cast doubt on whether his administration can deliver that promise in practice, especially amid ongoing instability. Meanwhile, security forces have increased patrols near places of worship, and emergency services have begun clearing debris from the scene.
Sky News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Syria: 22 killed after suicide bomber opens fire at church - and then detonates explosive vest
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." 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.
