(Damascus, 23rd) A suicide bomb attack occurred at a church in Syria’s capital Damascus, resulting in at least 22 deaths and 63 injuries.
According to Xinhua News Agency, a statement from Syria’s interior department said that members of the extremist group 'Islamic State' broke into an Orthodox church in the Duwaila area of Damascus on the 22nd, opened fire, and then detonated explosives strapped to their bodies.
The church’s priest, Shatah, told the media at the scene that the attack happened during Sunday prayers, when there were nearly 400 people inside the church. He first heard gunshots outside, then two attackers broke in through the main entrance, fired into the congregation, and then detonated explosives.
Another eyewitness told a Xinhua reporter that during the attack the two assailants shouted “sectarian slogans.”
Syrian foreign affairs official Shibani posted on social media, strongly condemning the attack and expressing condolences to the victims. He emphasized: “This crime will not undermine the unity of our people.”
This is one of the worst terrorist attacks to occur in Syria since the major political changes last December.
According to Xinhua News Agency, a statement from Syria’s interior department said that members of the extremist group 'Islamic State' broke into an Orthodox church in the Duwaila area of Damascus on the 22nd, opened fire, and then detonated explosives strapped to their bodies.
The church’s priest, Shatah, told the media at the scene that the attack happened during Sunday prayers, when there were nearly 400 people inside the church. He first heard gunshots outside, then two attackers broke in through the main entrance, fired into the congregation, and then detonated explosives.
Another eyewitness told a Xinhua reporter that during the attack the two assailants shouted “sectarian slogans.”
Syrian foreign affairs official Shibani posted on social media, strongly condemning the attack and expressing condolences to the victims. He emphasized: “This crime will not undermine the unity of our people.”
This is one of the worst terrorist attacks to occur in Syria since the major political changes last December.