Syria makes arrests after Church attack

Syrian authorities on Monday announced arrests over a suicide blast targeting a church blamed on the Islamic State group, as President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed those involved in the "heinous" attack would face justice.

The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the Saint Elias church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63, the health ministry said.

The interior ministry reported the arrest of "a number of criminals involved in the attack" and the seizure of explosive devices and a booby-trapped motorcycle during a security operation near Damascus "against cells affiliated with the Daesh (IS) terrorist group".

The announcement came hours after Sharaa vowed authorities would "work night and day, mobilising all our specialised security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and bring them to justice".

The attack follows incidents of sectarian violence in recent months, with security one of the greatest challenges for the new authorities.