Death toll rises to at least 27 in Orthodox church attack in Syria PHOTO/UPDATED

The death toll from the bombing at Mar Elias Church in the Douweila area of Damascus has risen to 27, meical sources say.

Several Syrian government officials have visited the site, stressing the urgent need to bring those responsible for the attack to justice, Caliber.Az reports, citing Syrian media. 

Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa condemned the bombing, calling it a direct assault on civil peace and national unity. Speaking to Syria TV, he highlighted that the attack was designed to sow divisions among the Syrian people and to undermine the social fabric, deepening existing societal rifts.

Al-Mustafa also underscored the Ministry of Information’s role in fostering a unified national discourse to counter extremist and fanatical ideologies propagated by terrorist groups. He described this effort as a key part of the government’s broader strategy to confront ongoing challenges.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior announced the launch of investigations into the bombing. He acknowledged the current sensitive phase Syria is experiencing, which may be marked by violations, but reaffirmed the strong resolve of Syrians to reclaim and rebuild their homeland based on the principle of equal citizenship. He stressed that investing in national unity remains the most effective means to safeguard the country.

11:07

A suicide bomber opened fire on June 22 before detonating an explosive vest inside the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus in Syria, killing at least 22 people and injuring 63 others. The church was filled with worshippers at the time of the attack.

According to Syria’s Health Ministry, cited by state media SANA, the death toll stands at 22, with dozens wounded. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 19 fatalities but did not provide exact figures. Some local sources indicated that children were among the casualties, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

This attack marks the first assault on a church in Syria in several years, occurring amid ongoing efforts by Damascus, under its de facto Islamist rule, to secure the support of minority communities. President Ahmad al-Sharaa faces challenges in asserting control over the fragmented country, where concerns persist over sleeper cells linked to extremist groups.

No group has yet claimed responsibility. However, Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Noureddine Al-Baba said a preliminary investigation suggests the Islamic State extremist group is behind the attack. He described how one gunman entered the church, opened fire on worshippers, and then detonated an explosives vest, consistent with witness accounts.

“The security of places of worship is a red line,” Al-Baba stated, adding that both IS and remnants of the ousted Assad government seek to destabilise Syria.

Witnesses recounted that the attacker, with his face covered, fired inside the church before detonating the explosives when a crowd attempted to subdue him at the entrance. Security forces and emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene. Survivors were reported to be panicked and distressed, with some breaking down in tears.

A photograph shared by SANA showed the church’s interior damaged, with pews covered in debris and blood. Authorities continue their investigation into the attack.

By Sabina Mammadli