DAMASCUS (Reuters) -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.

The interior ministry says a man affiliated with IS entered a church and opened fire before blowing himself up.

Mourners attend a mass at damaged Damascus church a day after suicide attack. Syrian authorities announced arrests over the blast blamed on the Islamic State group. The shooting and suicide bombing at the Saint Elias church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63.