A suicide bomber detonated himself inside a church in Damascus, Syria, during a mass, killing at least 30 people and injuring many others. The attack occurred in Dweil’a, a residential area on the outskirts of the city, and marks the first such incident in the country in years. Eyewitnesses reported that the attacker, who started shooting at the congregation before detonating his explosives, had earlier been observed entering the church.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 30 people were wounded and killed, though the precise number of casualties remains unclear. The attack has raised concerns about the presence of extremist groups in the country, as Damascus under President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to maintain control across the region. Local media has also indicated that children were among the victims, intensifying calls for international intervention and security measures.
Security forces and first-responders rushed to the church. An eyewitness said in a video widely circulated online that the attacker came in and started to shoot at the people there before detonating an explosive vest he was wearing. The incident has sparked outrage across the international community, with calls for increased support to stabilize the region and address the growing threat of extremist violence.