News

Damascus church hit in suicide bombing

At least 20 civilians have been killed and 52 wounded

Nada Maucourant Atallah
Nada Maucourant Atallah
Damascus

June 22, 2025

  • English
  • Arabic

At least 20 people were killed in a terrorist attack at a church in Damascus on Sunday, with witnesses telling The National at the scene that at least one suicide bomber opened fire outside the church before detonating an explosive vest inside.

The Ministry of Health told state media that at least 20 people were killed and 52 wounded in an updated toll "from the terrorist attack that targeted Mar Elias Church in the Dweila area of Damascus".

"A suicide bomber affiliated with the terrorist group ISIS entered Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of the capital, Damascus, where he opened fire before detonating himself with an explosive vest," state media reported.

Damascus church hit in suicide bombing - in pictures

People and rescuers inspect the damage after a suicide attack at the Mar Elias church, in the Dweila area of Damascus. AFP
People and rescuers inspect the damage after a suicide attack at the Mar Elias church, in the Dweila area of Damascus. AFP
Syrian civil defence workers remove debris inside the church. AP
Syrian civil defence workers remove debris inside the church. AP
It was the first suicide bombing in Syria in years. AFP
It was the first suicide bombing in Syria in years. AFP
At least one suicide bomber opened fire outside the church before detonating an explosive vest inside. AFP
At least one suicide bomber opened fire outside the church before detonating an explosive vest inside. AFP
The Ministry of Health has said more than 50 people were wounded in the attack. AFP
The Ministry of Health has said more than 50 people were wounded in the attack. AFP
People gather near the church after the attack. AFP
People gather near the church after the attack. AFP
People and rescuers inspect the damage at the church. AFP
People and rescuers inspect the damage at the church. AFP
Syrian security forces stand guard outside the church. State media says the suicide bomber was affiliated with ISIS. AP
Syrian security forces stand guard outside the church. State media says the suicide bomber was affiliated with ISIS. AP
There were about 400 people inside the church at the time of the attack. AP
There were about 400 people inside the church at the time of the attack. AP
The attack comes as Damascus is trying to win the support of minorities. AP
The attack comes as Damascus is trying to win the support of minorities. AP

There was swift condemnation from outside Syria. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered condolences and expressed "strong condemnation of these criminal acts", state news agency Wam reported.

The UN's special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed outrage at what he called a "heinous crime". Tom Barrack, a Syria envoy for US President Donald Trump, said "these terrible acts of cowardice have no place in the new tapestry of integrated tolerance and inclusion that Syrians are weaving

Witness account

A witness confirmed to The National that a gunman opened fire on people before entering the church and detonating a bomb inside. Ambulances rushed to the scene.

"I was in my car when I heard an explosion just as I passed the church. People started screaming and I heard gun shots," one witness told The National.

"Cars and ambulances started arriving. I saw many people injured and others may have been killed."

People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a suicide attack at the Mar Elias church in Damascus. AFP
People and rescuers inspect the damage at the site of a suicide attack at the Mar Elias church in Damascus. AFP

A priest at the church said he first heard gunshots outside, followed by more shots inside the church about two minutes later. He added that two attackers entered and blew themselves up.

“There were around 400 people inside the church,” he said.

The National was at the scene of the blast and saw widespread destruction and shattered glass. The attack was the first of its kind in Syria in years and comes as Damascus is trying to win the support of minorities.

As President Ahmad Al Shara attempts to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country.

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Catchweight 68kg:
Sean Soriano (USA) bt Noad Lahat (ISR)
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Middleweight:
Denis Tiuliulin (RUS) bt Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
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Lightweight:
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) bt Joachim Tollefsen (DEN)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 68kg:
Austin Arnett (USA) bt Daniel Vega (MEX)
(TKO round 3)
Lightweight:
Carrington Banks (USA) bt Marcio Andrade (BRA)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 58kg:
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) bt Malin Hermansson (SWE)
(Submission round 2)
Bantamweight:
Jalal Al Daaja (CAN) bt Juares Dea (CMR)
(Split decision)
Middleweight:
Mohamad Osseili (LEB) bt Ivan Slynko (UKR)
(TKO round 1)
Featherweight:
Tarun Grigoryan (ARM) bt Islam Makhamadjanov (UZB)
(Unanimous decision)
Catchweight 54kg:
Mariagiovanna Vai (ITA) bt Daniella Shutov (ISR)
(Submission round 1)
Middleweight:
Joan Arastey (ESP) bt Omran Chaaban (LEB)
(Unanimous decision)
Welterweight:
Bruno Carvalho (POR) bt Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
(TKO)

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