Palm Sunday bombings in Egypt churches, claimed by ISIS, kill 44
Pope Francis offers prayers for victims after Coptic Christian churches bombed
At least 44 people were killed in bomb attacks on the symbolic cathedral seat of the Coptic Pope and another church on Palm Sunday, prompting anger and fear among Christians and troop deployments across Egypt.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which also injured more than 100 people and occurred a week before Coptic Easter, with Pope Francis scheduled to visit Egypt later this month.
The assault is the latest on a religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants, and a challenge to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect them as part of his campaign against extremism.
The first bombing, in Tanta, a Nile Delta city about 100 km (60 miles) north of Cairo, tore through the inside of St. George Church during its Palm Sunday service, killing at least 27 people and injuring at least 78, the health ministry said.
The second, carried out a few hours later by a suicide bomber in Alexandria, hit Saint Mark’s Cathedral, the historic seat of the Coptic Pope, killing 17 people, including three police officers, and injuring 48, the ministry added.
Coptic Pope Tawadros had been leading the mass at Saint Mark’s Cathedral at the time of the explosion but was not injured, the interior ministry said.
“These acts will not harm the unity and cohesion of the people,” he was
Coptic Pope Tawadros had been leading the mass at Saint Mark’s Cathedral at the time of the explosion but was not injured, the interior ministry said later quoted as saying.
Mr Sisi ordered troops be immediately deployed to assist police in securing vital facilities, a rare move for the general-turned-president, who as defense chief led the military’s 2013 ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi.
“The attack...will only harden the determination (of the Egyptian people) to move forward on their trajectory to realize security, stability and comprehensive development,” Mr Sisi said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump condemned the attack. “So sad to hear of the terrorist attack in Egypt. US strongly condemns. I have great confidence that President Al Sisi will handle situation properly,” Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.
Coptic Christian worshippers in Egypt spoke of horrific scenes on Sunday after a bomb ripped through their church during a service, mangling bodies and destroying pews. “There was a violent explosion near the altar,” Edmon Edward told AFP. “Suddenly everything became black, people flew over each other,” he said.
He had been attending Palm Sunday mass at the Mar Girgis church in Tanta with his brother Emil, who stood with a white bandage wrapped around his head, when the attack claimed by the Islamic State group happened.
The explosion killed at least 27 people, and was followed hours later by a second bombing at a church in Alexandria, which killed 17 — totalling 44. Pope Francis, who is due to visit Cairo on April
Egyptian President al-Sisi orders military deployments to protect ‘vital and important infrastructure’ in the country
28-29, offered prayers for the victims. “Let us pray for the victims of the attack unfortunately carried out today,” he said.
At the church in Tanta, icons of Christ and St George looked down on a tangle of destroyed pews and congealing blood on the floor tiles.
“I head the blast, and then I saw a woman run barefoot with her face oozing blood,” said a taxi driver who asked not to be identified.
In hospital, a wounded witness told state television: “I just felt fire grabbing my face. I pushed my brother who was sitting next to me and then I heard people saying: ‘explosion’.” Nabil Nader, 65, who lives opposite the church, spoke of the attack’s aftermath and said the first three rows of pews in the church were destroyed.
“I heard the blast and came running. I found people torn up... some people, only half of their bodies remained,” he said.
“The father of a friend of my son was in the front row,” he said, his voice breaking with anguish. “We found only his shoe.”
Nearby, a man held up a burned prayer book and a traditional braided palmleaf crucifix, stained with blood. “They came to pray and they died,” he said.
Police sirens wailed incessantly around the city as ambulances ferried victims to hospital. Police cordoned off the church, but residents who gathered nearby were unable to hide their anger.
Despite the presence of metal detectors, the bomber was apparently able to enter the building without any hindrance. “How was the bomb able to enter, while police” were outside the church, asked Nagat Assaad, holding back tears.
Egypt’s Copts, who have suffered repeated deadly jihadist attacks, say they feel abandoned and discriminated against by the authorities in the predominantly Muslim country.
But despite their fears, the Christians of Tanta said they are determined to defend their faith.
“We’re Christian and we will stay Christian,” one woman said in a defiant tone. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered military deployments to protect “vital and important infrastructure”.