Alepo, Syria
Cnn
–

At least 20 people have been killed and 52 others were injured after a “terrorist attack” in a Greek Orthodox Church in Syrian capital On Sunday, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Syria told the CNN that it was carried out by a “suicide bomber associated with the ISIS terrorist organization”.

He opened fire for the MAR Elias church congregation in Damascus before “exploding himself using an explosive vest,” the ministry said in a statement.

A mass was being held in the church at the time of the attack, according to the Syria State News Agency.

A video circulating on Syrian social media from inside the church shows dead bodies, considerable destruction, shattered glass and broken chairs in the area where mass was being held, with visible blood across the scene.

Syria’s civil defense, widely known as white helmets, said emergency teams were working to transfer troops to hospitals and secure the area.

“The treacherous hand of evil struck on Sunday, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, said in a statement, writing that” an explosion occurred at the entrance of the church, resulting in the death of numerous martyrs and causing injuries to many others inside the church or in its immediate vicinity. ”

“We offer our prayers for the regeneration of the martyrs’ souls, the healing of the wounded and the comfort of our sad believers. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to our faith and, through that endurance, our rejection of all fear and intimidation,” the church said.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, expressed “anger” in “serious crime,” his office said in a statement.

“Mr. Pedersen calls on everyone to join in the rejection of terrorism, extremism, promotion and targeting of every community in Syria. He sends his deepest condolences to the victims’ families and his hope of recovering the injured,” the statement said.

The Special Prophet of the United States for Syria, Thomas Barrack, called the attack an act of “cowards”, saying in a statement that there is no “place in new tapestry of tolerance and integrated involvement that Syrians are intertwining”.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministries, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Qatari, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian Authority, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Republika Czecheke and Netherlands also spoke at the punishment of the attack.