Syria: Suicide attack kills 20 people in Damascus church; investigations underway
At least 20 people were killed and 52 injured in a suicide attack that took place during Sunday mass at a church in Damascus.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) June 23: Syria's health ministry reports that a suicide bombing at a Damascus church has left at least 22 people dead and 63 injured. Emergency responders and security guards hurried to the situation.
The official statement from the health ministry said, "The number of victims in the terrorist attack that targeted the Saint Elias church in the Dwelaa area of Damascus has risen to 20 dead and 52 wounded."
According to the interior ministry, a guy used a weapon to shoot during a Sunday night worship at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias in the Dweila area before blowing off an explosive jacket.
The Interior Ministry said, "A suicide attacker affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group entered the Saint Elias church... opened fire, then blew himself up with an explosive belt" in a statement.
It claimed that the attacker was connected to the Islamic State (IS), a jihadist organization. The gang itself made no immediate claim.
Images and footage taken inside the church revealed blood splattered on the walls, a severely damaged altar, and seats covered in shattered glass.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch said, "The treacherous hand of evil struck this evening, claiming our lives, along with the lives of our loved ones who fell today as martyrs during the evening divine liturgy” regarding the incident.
Anas Khattab, the interior minister stated that his ministry's specialized teams had started looking into the circumstances surrounding what he described as a "reprehensible crime".
He said, "These terrorist acts will not stop the efforts of the Syrian state in achieving civil peace" in a statement.
The strike was the first of its kind in Damascus since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by Islamist-led opposition forces in December, bringing an end to a horrific civil war that lasted 13 years.
The attack coincides with Damascus's efforts to improve relations with minority groups under de facto Islamist rule.
Concerns about the possible revival of extremist sleeper cells in the war-torn nation have increased in light of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's continuous attempts to establish control over the entire country.
Aadrika Tayal
