A powerful explosion tore through a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs on Friday, killing at least six worshippers and injuring more than 21 others, triggering panic in the area during afternoon prayers.
According to Syrian authorities, the blast occurred inside the Ali Bin Abi Talib Mosque located in the Wadi al-Dahab locality, a neighbourhood largely inhabited by members of the Alawite community. The explosion struck at a time when the mosque was crowded with devotees, magnifying the scale of casualties.
Syria’s Interior Ministry described the incident as a terrorist attack and confirmed that emergency teams rushed to the scene within minutes. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, where several are reported to be in serious condition. Security forces cordoned off the area as investigators began examining the site to determine the method and source of the explosion.
State-run news agency SANA also confirmed the incident, stating that authorities are probing whether the blast was caused by an explosive device planted inside the mosque or triggered remotely. Officials have not yet named any group responsible for the attack.
Homs, once a major flashpoint during Syria’s prolonged civil war, has witnessed repeated episodes of sectarian violence over the years. Though the city has seen relative calm in recent times, Friday’s attack has revived fears of renewed instability and targeted violence against religious sites.
