The blast shattered pews and caused extensive damage inside the church. The Syrian Ministry of Health reported 25 killed and 63 wounded, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said 27 people died in the blast, in addition to three unidentified body parts recovered from the site.

DAMASCUS, Syria -- The death toll from an attack on a church in Syria has gone up to 25, state media said Monday.

DAMASCUS - Syrian Christians were struggling on Monday to understand why their community was targeted in a suicide attack and whether they can rely on the Islamist-led government's assurances of protection.