BREAKING: Syria suicide bomber 'kills at least 13' after detonating device in church full of worshipers

A suicide bombing inside a church filled with people has killed at least 13 people in Syria.

The explosion in Dweil'a in the outskirts of Damascus took place as people were praying inside the Mar Elias Church. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Syrian Interior Ministry identified the perpetrator as a member of the Islamic State group. He is said to have entered the church and fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosive vest. Church Bishop Moussa Khoury said the attacker also threw a grenade into the church during afternoon mass.

He told The Associated Press: "He started shooting, went and then he blew up the church,"

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Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the bombing, calling it a terrorist attack.

"This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together," he said on X. "We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship - and we also affirm the state's pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety."

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