What we know about the suicide attack in a church in Damascus which left at least 22 dead

“Perfid attack”, “abject terrorist attack”, attempt to “destabilize the country” … Moreover, the day after the suicide bombing which killed at least 22 people in a Christian church in Damascus. Consequently, Syria, the horror dominates national and international reactions. Moreover, 20 Minutes Take stock of what is known about this attack, attributed by the Syrian authorities to a Daesh fighter.

What happened? – What we know about suicide

The attack took place Sunday in the Dwelaa district of Damascus. Meanwhile, According to the Syrian Interior Ministry. Moreover, Anas Khattab, an “suicide assailant affiliated to the Daesh terrorist group entered the Saint-Elie church […]opened fire, and exploded with an explosive belt. In addition, ”

A version corroborated by several witnesses interviewed by AFP. Nevertheless, On the spot. Consequently, correspondents also saw the rescuers evacuating victims of the church, where wood debris and icons were scattered on the ground, covered with blood. what we know about suicide Similarly, A 40 -year -old man. Moreover, named Ziad, who was in a store in front of the church, reports having heard shots and then an explosion. Consequently, “We have seen fire in the church and pieces of wooden benches projected until the entrance,” he added. The explosion caused panic in the church filled with faithful, including children and the elderly, according to a witness.

The latest assessment of the Ministry of Health. quoted by the Sana news agency, was revised upwards and reports at least 22 people dead and 63 injured.

Who is behind this attack?

Syrian authorities accuse the author of being a member of the Islamic State jihadist group (IS). According to them. several attempts at attacks by the Sunni jihadist group against the Shiite Christian and Muslim communities have already been thwarted.

In May. Syrian forces said they had arrested members of an IS cell near Damascus, accused of preparing what we know about suicide attacks, while another operation in Aleppo in the North resulted in the death of a security officer and three members of the jihadist organization.

At the start of the Syrian civil war. which broke out in 2011, Daesh had taken control of large areas between the Syrian and Iraqi territories, proclaiming the creation of a “caliphate” in 2014. If the latter was defeated in 2019, the jihadists maintained a presence in the country, in particular in the desert.

What are the reactions?

“We will work day. night to arrest all those who participated or planned this heinous crime, and translate them into justice so that they receive the trouble they deserve,” promised the Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Chareh. He added that the attack on “innocent in safety in their places of worship reminds us of the importance of solidarity. unity – government and people – faced with everything that threatens the security and what we know about suicide stability of our homeland”.

The Grand Mufti of Syria. Osama al-Rifaï, said “completely reject” any attack on places of worship, expressing his “most sincere condolences to the families of the victims”.

Internationally, the attack was sentenced by many countries. The European Union has denounced an “odious. cowardly Christians” attack, while the UN emissary for Syria expressed its indignation, condemning “with the greatest firm the terrorist attack on the Saint-Elie Church”. The American emissary for Syria. Tom Barrack, denounced “an act of cowardice” which has no place “in the new society of tolerance and inclusion that the Syrians are weaving”.

“We will never allow Syria. a neighboring country and brother, which for the first time after years of oppression and war what we know about suicide is considering its future with hope, be trained again in instability by terrorist groups,” wrote on X Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey, support for new authorities in Damascus.

France has condemned an “abject terrorist attack”. recalled “its commitment to a transition in Syria which allows the Syrians, whatever their confession, to live in peace and security in free, united, plural, prosperous, stable and sovereign Syria”. Emmanuel Macron expressed “solidarity to the bereaved and injured families on his account.”

What we know about suicide

What is the political context?

Since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. overthrown in December by a coalition of Islamist rebel factions led by Ahmad al-Chareh, this is the first this kind of this kind in Syria.

During the civil war period. churches were damaged and attacks took place near Christian places of worship, but no suicide attack was carried out inside a church, recalls the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. What place the new Syrian Islamist authorities under pressure. ordered by the international community to protect minorities and include them in the political transition process.

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The Damascus Orthodox patriarchy has urged the power in place to “assume full responsibility” of the attack. urging them to ensure the “inviolability of what we know about suicide churches and the protection of all nationals” of the country.