Syria church bombing kills 25, dozens wounded

A suicide bomber has carried out an attack inside a packed church in Syria’s capital, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens more, according to state media.

The blast in Dweil’a on the outskirts of Damascus took place as people were praying during mass inside the Mar Elias Church on Sunday.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said a fighter from the ISIL (ISIS) group entered the church and fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosives vest, echoing some witnesses’ testimonies.

A preliminary death toll was reported at 22 people killed, but state news agency SANA, citing the country’s Ministry of Health, reported on Monday that 25 victims had now been counted.

Read more: Al Jazeera