At least twenty people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a church in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Sunday, local authorities tell news agency Reuters. The Syrian Interior Minister says the Islamic State (IS) is behind the attack.
The attack took place at a Greek Orthodox church in eastern Damascus. A man with an explosive belt opened fire on those present and then blew himself up, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
At least 52 people were injured. AFP news agency reporters on the scene saw devastation in the church, with shattered wood from church furniture and benches, icons on the ground and pools of blood.
An insider tells Reuters that two people were involved in the attack. One of them was the man with the explosive belt. The Syrian Interior Minister says IS is behind the attack.
Since the fall of the regime of former dictator Bashar Al Assad late last year, IS has made several attempts to carry out attacks on Syrian churches. This was the first time this has been successful, Reuters reports.
Greece demands action from transitional government
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns the suicide bombing in Damascus. “We demand that the Syrian transitional government take immediate action to hold the perpetrators accountable and introduce measures to ensure the safety of the Christian community and other religious groups.”
Syria is currently governed by a transitional government led by President Ahmed Al Sharaa. Upon his appointment in January, he stressed that he wants to protect the rights of Syrian minorities.