A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a church full of people in Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday. At least 15 people are reported dead and 13 are seriously injured in this suicide attack. This attack took place in the center of the capital, when the attacker blew himself up, a prayer meeting was going on in the church.

This attack was the first of its kind in Syria in many years and it has happened at a time when Damascus is trying to win the support of its de facto Islamic rule minorities. President Ahmed al-Shara is struggling to establish his dominance across the country, there are concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of extremist groups in the war-torn country. Syria's Information Minister Hamza Mustafa condemned the attack and called it a terrorist attack.

ISIS suicide bomber - Home Ministry

Syrian government media has called it a cowardly terrorist attack. Syria's interior ministry said the suicide bomber was a member of the Islamic State. The ministry said in a statement that he entered the church, opened fire and then detonated his explosive jacket. The area targeted by the terrorist is considered to be the safest area in Syria. However, no terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for this attack so far.

First firing, then explosion
The church's bishop Musa Khouri said the attacker also threw a grenade in the church during the afternoon prayer ceremony. He first started firing and then exploded in the church. News agency AP quoted an eyewitness as saying that there were two other people along with the attacker.