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Gulf Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Suicide bombing at Damascus church kills at least 15
At least 15 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, security sources said. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says there were 30 people wounded and killed, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties. The incident marks the first suicide bombing inside Damascus since Bashar Al Assad was toppled in December. 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. A witness who identified himself as Rawad told The Associated Press he saw the attacker who was accompanied by two others who fled as he was driving near the church. "He was shooting at the church … he then went inside the church and blew himself up,' he said. 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, formerly Twitter. "We will to 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.' 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. A livestream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of destruction from within the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered church 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 during his tenure. Agencies
India Today
9 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
9 killed, dozens injured in suicide bombing at church in Syria's Damascus
A suicide bomber in Syria on Sunday detonated himself inside a church filled with people, killing at least nine, Syrian state media 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 that at least 15 others were wounded. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says there were 30 people wounded and killed, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the attack 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, 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.A witness who identified himself as Rawad told The Associated Press he saw the attacker, who was accompanied by two others who fled as he was driving near the church."He was shooting at the church he then went inside the church and blew himself up," he 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, formerly Twitter. "We will to 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."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 InMust Watch
Los Angeles Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Suicide bomber kills at least 9 in Syrian church near Damascus during Mass
DWEILA, Syria — A suicide bomber in Syria on Sunday detonated his explosives inside a church filled with people, killing at least nine, Syrian state media reported. The explosion in Dweila, on the outskirts of Damascus, took place as people were praying inside the Mar Elias Church. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, or SANA, citing the Health Ministry, said that at least 15 others were wounded. The Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says there were 30 casualties, but it did not give exact numbers of dead and wounded. Some local media reports said that children were among the casualties. The attack 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, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said an extremist from the Islamic State group entered the church and fired at the people there before detonating an explosives vest. Some witness testimonies supported that account. A witness who identified himself as Rawad told the Associated Press he saw the attacker, who was accompanied by two others who fled as he was driving near the church. 'He was shooting at the church. … He then went inside the church and blew himself up,' he said. Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the bombing, 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.' Security forces and first responders rushed to the church. Panicked survivors wailed; one woman fell to her knees and burst into tears. A photo circulated by SANA showed the church's pews covered in debris and blood. Shaheen and Chehayeb write for the Associated Press and reported from Dweila and Beirut, respectively.
San Francisco Chronicle
10 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Suicide bomber kills at least 9 in Syrian church near Damascus during mass
DWEIL'A, Syria (AP) — A suicide bomber in Syria on Sunday detonated himself inside a church filled with people, killing at least nine, 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 15 others were wounded. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says there were 30 people wounded and killed, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties. The attack 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, 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. A witness who identified himself as Rawad told The Associated Press he saw the attacker who was accompanied by two others who fled as he was driving near the church. 'He was shooting at the church … he then went inside the church and blew himself up,' he said. 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, formerly Twitter. 'We will to 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.' 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. ___ Chehayeb reported from Beirut.
