Syrian Church Patriarch Narrowly Escapes Suicide Bomber

A Syrian church patriarch barely escaped with his life Sunday after a suicide bomber detonated himself at a memorial service in Kerala, India.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, supreme leader of the Syrian Orthodox church and the Jacobite church in Kerala, was leading a prayer at a memorial service commemorating the 1915 Ottoman massacre of Christians in northern Syria.

The suicide bomber denotated himself when the event's security confronted him. Security forces who stopped the bomber were a part of Sotoro, a Christian militia in northeast Syria.

A Sotoro member told AFP that the bomber "detonated himself near our checkpoint after he couldn't reach his real target, Patriarch Ignatius."

Patriarch Ignatius barely escaped unharmed while three others were killed.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the attacks Monday, saying it is a "relief to hear that the religious head was not injured."

"We share the concern of all those who love and respect him," Vijayan said. "I am glad that the Patriarch escaped a bid on his life."