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Hundreds of mourners gathered outside a mosque in the Syrian city on Saturday despite rain and cold Holmes An explosion the day before killed 8 people and injured 18 others.
Crowds gathered at the Imam Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, whose population is mainly from the Alawite minority, before driving to bury the victims.
Officials said a preliminary investigation showed an explosive device was planted inside the mosque, but the suspect has not been publicly identified.
A little-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its Telegram channel, which noted that the attack targeted members of the Alawite sect, a hardline offshoot of Shia Islam. islamist Considered an apostate.
The group had previously claimed a suicide attack in June in which a gunman opened fire inside a Greek Orthodox church in the suburb of Devera before detonating an explosive vest. damascusOn Sunday, 25 people were killed as worshipers prayed.
A neighbor of the mosque asked that only Abu Ahmed (“Ahmed’s father”) be named for security reasons. He said he was at home when he heard a “very, very strong explosion.”
He said he and other neighbors went to the mosque and saw people running out of the mosque in fear. They went in and began trying to help the injured, with blood and body parts scattered on the floor.
Although the neighborhood is predominantly Alawite, he said the mosque has always been open to members of all sects for prayers.
“This is the house of God,” he said. “The doors of the mosque are open to everyone, no questions asked, anyone can come in if they want.”
Mourners were unable to enter the mosque to pray on Saturday as the crime scene remained cordoned off, so they prayed outside.
Some then marched through the streets chanting “Ya Ali,” referring to the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, whom Shiite Muslims consider his rightful heir.