A suicide bomber opened fire and detonated a suicide vest inside a Greek Orthodox church near Damascus on Sunday, killing at least 20 people and injuring 52 others.

The attack occurred in the town of Dweila, just outside the capital, inside the Mar Elias Church, according to Syrian state media. Local reports indicated that children were among the dead and wounded. 

Witnesses described a masked gunman entering the church during services and opening fire before detonating explosives when worshippers attempted to stop him. According to the Associated Press, Father Fadi Ghattas said the attack happened as around 350 people were gathered for prayer. One witness claimed there was a second gunman who reportedly fired on the church doors before the main assailant detonated himself.

While no group has officially claimed responsibility as of Sunday, the Syrian Interior Ministry blamed the Islamic State group, stating that one of its members carried out the attack by firing into the crowd before detonating his vest. 

According to the AP, the attack is the first of its kind in the country in years. Damascus, which is currently under de facto Islamist rule, has been trying to win the support of minorities. The attack also comes as President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to maintain control in the country, and concerns about the presence of sleeper cells by extremist groups continue.

Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack as a “cowardly” act of terrorism, posting on X that it “goes against the civic values that brings us together.”

“We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship … and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety,” he added.