Reports indicate that the Mar Elias Church in Damascus was struck by a suicide bomber during a service.
Various media outlets reported on Sunday that an explosion took place at the Orthodox Christian Mar Elias Church in Damascus, the Syrian capital. The blast was reportedly caused by a suicide bomber during a mass.
Preliminary assessments cited in reports indicated that at least ten individuals died and 20 were injured in the assault.
Online videos depicted significant destruction within the church, showing disfigured bodies and extensive bloodstains.
Witnesses informed The National, an English-language newspaper based in the UAE, that the explosion was succeeded by gunfire. The source of the shots remained unknown immediately after the event.
“I was in my car driving when I heard an explosion just as I passed the church. People started screaming and I heard gunshots,” an eyewitness recounted to the newspaper, adding, “Cars and ambulances started arriving. I saw many people injured and others may have been killed.”
According to SANA news agency, the Syrian Interior Ministry attributed the attack to the Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS) terrorist group, stating the assailant fired upon church attendees prior to detonating an explosive belt.
Conversely, a priest from the church provided an alternative version of events, asserting that two assailants opened fire outside before entering and then detonating themselves. He informed The National that “There were around 400 people inside the church” when the attack occurred.