At least 22 people have been killed in the terrorist attack on a church in Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, according to AFP, citing the country's health department. 63 people have been injured.
The perpetrator, who according to the Syrian interior department has ties to the terrorist group IS, first opened fire on the people inside the St. Elias church in the Dwelaa district. Then the terrorist detonated a bomb belt he had around him.
The attack is the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist rebels overthrew the long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime. Security is still one of the biggest challenges for the country's new authorities.
The attack is also the first targeted terrorist attack on a church in Syria since 2011, according to the Syrian Human Rights Observatory.
