DAMASCUS: The Syrian Ministry of Health has reported that at least 22 people were killed and 63 others injured in a suicide attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of “Elias” in the Douila neighborhood of Damascus.
The attack occurred on Sunday evening during a religious ceremony when an armed man entered the church, opened fire on attendees, and then detonated his explosive vest.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior has confirmed the assailant’s connection to the Islamic State (ISIS), although ISIS has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
Images from the scene show significant damage to the church’s altar and bloodied walls. Eyewitnesses indicated that people attempted to subdue the attacker before the explosion.
This is the first such attack in Damascus since the rise of armed forces led by Ahmad Sharaa and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad.
Greek Orthodox officials have called on the interim Syrian government to take responsibility for the security of churches and citizens.
The Syrian Interior Minister has initiated a comprehensive investigation into this “crime.”
The office of the UN Special Envoy and the U.S. Special Representative condemned the attack and called for unity among the Syrian people in the fight against terrorism.
