Lots of mourn in Syria's Homs after lethal mosque bombing

[ad_1] HOMS, Syria (AP) — Lots of of mourners gathered Saturday regardless of rain and chilly exterior of a mosque within the Syrian metropolis of Homs the place a bombing the day earlier than killed eight individuals and wounded 18.

The gang gathered subsequent to the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque within the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, the place the inhabitants is predominantly from the Alawite minority, earlier than driving in convoys to bury the victims.

Officers have mentioned the preliminary investigations point out explosive gadgets have been planted contained in the mosque however haven't but publicly recognized a suspect.

A bit-known group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed accountability for the assault in an announcement posted on its Telegram channel, through which it indicated that the assault meant to focus on members of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam whom hard-line Islamists think about to be apostates.

The identical group had beforehand claimed a suicide attack in June through which a gunman opened hearth after which detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church in Dweil’a, on the outskirts of Damascus, killing 25 individuals as worshippers prayed on a Sunday.

A neighbor of the mosque, who requested to be recognized solely by the honorific Abu Ahmad (“father of Ahmad”) out of safety issues, mentioned he was at dwelling when he heard the sound of a “very very robust explosion.”

He and different neighbors went to the mosque and noticed terrified individuals operating out of it, he mentioned. They entered and started attempting to assist the wounded, amid blood and scattered physique elements on the ground.

Whereas the neighborhood is primarily Alawite, he mentioned the mosque had all the time been open to members of all sects to hope.

“It’s the home of God,” he mentioned. “The mosque’s door is open to everybody. Nobody ever requested questions. Whoever needs to enter can enter.”

Mourners have been unable to enter the mosque to hope Saturday as a result of the crime scene remained cordoned off, so that they prayed exterior.

Some then marched by the streets chanting “Ya Ali,” in reference to the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law whom Shiite Muslims think about to be his rightful successor.

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