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.

A blast rocked the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria's capital, Damascus, on Sunday, according to witnesses. One witness told Reuters news agency a suicide bomber detonated himself inside the church.

Syria’s Interior Ministry says the sleeper cell behind a deadly church explosion near Damascus belonged to the Islamic State group