The Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese in Aleppo (northern Syria) issued a clarification over an incident in which a black bag fell from a hearse as it entered Mar Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Cathedral in the al-Sulaymaniyah neighborhood, while the body of a parishioner was being transported for prayers and burial.
The archdiocese said in a statement on Wednesday evening, May 13, that a vehicle belonging to a funeral office was bringing the body into the cathedral when a small object wrapped in a black bag and secured with transparent adhesive tape fell from the vehicle, raising suspicions about its nature.
According to the statement, the archdiocese guard initially believed the object belonged to the vehicle’s equipment, before the driver denied any connection to it. This prompted the guard to call a traffic police officer, who in turn requested the presence of security personnel. The road was then closed from all directions as a precaution against any potential danger.
The archdiocese added that an explosives engineering unit later arrived at the site and dealt with the object after inspecting it and removing it from the area, amid tight security measures.
It explained that, after reviewing surveillance camera footage, it became clear that the object had fallen from the hearse, which had earlier been parked on a nearby street.
The archdiocese thanked the security authorities that handled the incident with “speed and professionalism,” according to its description, noting that the rapid intervention prevented any potential damage.
Contained Several Bombs
The Internal Security Media Office in Aleppo told Enab Baladi that the object that fell from the hearse turned out to be a bag containing several bombs. The bag had been placed inside the vehicle before falling as the car moved around the cathedral.
The office added that security personnel dealt with the report immediately after receiving it. The site was secured, and the bag was handed over to the relevant authorities before work began to destroy its contents in accordance with established procedures.
It noted that it remains unclear who placed the bombs inside the bag or under what circumstances they were brought into the vehicle.
Activists on social media had circulated a video recording from a surveillance camera documenting the moment the bag fell from the hearse.
The footage showed the archdiocese guard approaching the bag and kicking it before becoming suspicious and calling security forces, who closed the area until the explosives unit arrived.
New Year’s Eve Suicide Bombing
Aleppo witnessed an explosion on December 31, coinciding with New Year’s celebrations, which caused anxiety among residents amid a heavy security deployment in several neighborhoods of the city.
According to Enab Baladi’s correspondent at the time, a General Security patrol spotted a suspicious person in the Bab al-Qasab area within the al-Jdeideh neighborhood of Old Aleppo. The person was tracked, and an attempt was made to stop him before he blew himself up during the arrest attempt.
The explosion killed one General Security member and injured two others, with no civilian casualties recorded.
For its part, the Media Relations Office in Aleppo told Enab Baladi that the incident resulted from a suicide bombing carried out by a person who had been suspected and monitored by General Security patrols in the al-Jdeideh area.
It said the pursuit took place in an area empty of residents before the explosion occurred.
The al-Jdeideh area, near the Bab al-Faraj neighborhood, includes several historic churches and usually witnesses large gatherings and celebrations during Christmas and New Year’s holidays. This prompted tighter security measures during that period, especially in neighborhoods with a religious character in Aleppo.
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