Fact Check: 350 worshippers were present during the church bombing.

Fact Check: "350 worshippers were present during the church bombing."

What We Know

On June 22, 2025, a suicide bomber attacked the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Dweil’a, near Damascus, Syria, during a Divine Liturgy service. Reports indicate that the church was filled with worshippers at the time of the attack. According to Father Fadi Ghattas, a priest at the church, there were approximately 350 people praying inside the church when the bombing occurred. The attack resulted in at least 22 fatalities and numerous injuries, with the death toll later rising to 25, as reported by various news outlets including the Associated Press and other local sources (AP News, Washington Post).

Analysis

The claim that "350 worshippers were present during the church bombing" is supported by eyewitness testimony from Father Fadi Ghattas, who directly stated the number of attendees during the service at the time of the attack (AP News). This figure is corroborated by multiple reports that describe the church as being "packed" during the service (TimesNG).

While the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a lower number of fatalities (19), they did not dispute the attendance figure provided by Father Ghattas (AP News). The consistency of the 350 figure across multiple reputable sources lends credibility to the claim.

However, it is important to note that the primary source of this information comes from an eyewitness, which can be subject to individual perception and memory. Nonetheless, given the corroboration from various media outlets and the context of the event, the reliability of this testimony is strengthened.

Conclusion

The claim that "350 worshippers were present during the church bombing" is True. The figure is directly attributed to a credible eyewitness, and it is supported by multiple news reports covering the incident. The consistency across these reports enhances the validity of the claim.