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At slightest 22 radical person been killed aft a termination bomber opened occurrence astatine a religion successful Syria - and past detonated an explosive vest.
This is the archetypal specified incidental since Bashar al Assad was toppled successful December, and officials assertion the attacker was a subordinate of Islamic State.
It happened astatine a Greek Orthodox religion successful Damascus, with estimates suggesting that 350 worshippers were praying determination astatine the time.
Witnesses said the perpetrator had his look covered erstwhile helium began shooting - and blew himself up arsenic crowds attempted to region him from the building.
A information root told Reuters that 2 men were progressive successful the attack, with a clergyman saying helium saw a 2nd gunman astatine the entrance.
Officials accidental 63 radical were injured, and children were among the casualties.
Syria's accusation minister, Hamza Mostafa, condemned the violent onslaught - penning connected X: "This cowardly enactment goes against the civic values that bring america together.
"We volition not backmost down from our committedness to adjacent citizenship... and we besides affirm the state's pledge to exert each its efforts to combat transgression organisations."
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Reports suggest that IS has attempted to onslaught respective churches successful Syria since Assad fell, but this is the archetypal clip they person succeeded.
Footage filmed by Syria's civilian defence, the White Helmets, showed scenes of demolition wrong the religion - including bloodied floors and shattered pews.
The Greek overseas ministry says it "unequivocally condemns the abhorrent violent termination bombing", and called connected Syria "to warrant the safety" of Christians with caller measures.
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