25 killed in deadliest attack in Egypt for years on Christians
Print Edition
A bombing at Cairo’s largest Coptic cathedral killed at least 25 people and wounded 49 others yesterday, many of them women and children attending Sunday Mass, in the deadliest attack on Egypt’s Christian minority in years.
The attack comes as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi battles against an Islamist insurgency in Northern Sinai, led by the Egyptian branch of Islamic State.
The militant group has also carried out deadly attacks in Cairo and has urged supporters to launch attacks around the world in recent weeks as it goes on the defensive in its Iraqi and Syrian strongholds.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Islamic State supporters celebrated the attack on social media.
“God bless the person who did this blessed act,” wrote one supporter of the militant group on Telegram.
The explosion took place in a chapel adjoining the main hall of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, the largest in the metropolis of 20 million, where security is normally tight. The chapel floor and pews were covered with debris, dust and blood.
“As soon as the priest called us to prepare for prayer, the explosion happened,” said Emad Shoukry, who was inside when the blast took place. “I managed to leave in the middle of screams and there were a lot of people thrown on the ground.”
Security sources said that at least six children were among the dead, with the blast detonating on the side of the church normally used by women.
They said the explosion was caused by a device containing at least 12 kilograms of TNT.
Police were investigating claims by witnesses that the bomb was concealed in the handbag of a woman who had placed it on the floor of the church and left.
Police and armored vehicles rushed to the area, as dozens of protesters gathered outside the compound demanding revenge. Angry crowds turned their ire against Sisi, saying his government had failed to protect them.
Demonstrators chanted “the people demand the fall of the regime,” the rallying cry of the 2011 uprising that helped to end Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule in Egypt.
Sisi’s office condemned the attack as an act of terrorism and declared three days of national mourning. Al Azhar, Egypt’s main Islamic centre of learning, also denounced the attacks.
Orthodox Copts, who comprise about 10 percent of Egypt’s 90 million people, are the Middle East’s biggest Christian community.
The last major attack on a church took place as worshippers left a new year’s service in Alexandria weeks before the start of the 2011 uprising. At least 21 people were killed.
Coptic Pope Tawadros II cut short a visit to Greece after learning of yesterday’s attack.
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