ISIS bombs kill dozens at 2 churches
TANTA, Egypt — Suicide bombers struck hours apart at two Coptic Christian churches in northern Egypt, killing 44 people and turning Palm Sunday services into scenes of horror and outrage at the government, leading the president to call
for a three-month state of emergency.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the violence, adding to fears that extremists are shifting their focus to civilians, especially Egypt’s Christian minority.
The attacks in the northern cities of Tanta and Alexandria, which also left 126 people wounded, came at the start of Holy Week leading up to Easter, and weeks before Pope Francis is due to visit.
Pope Tawadros II, the Coptic church’s leader who is to meet with the Roman Catholic pope on April 28-29, was in the Alexandria cathedral at the time of the bombing but was unhurt, the Interior Ministry said. The timing of the attack indicated the bomber had sought to assassinate him.
It was the deadliest day for Christians in Egypt in decades and the worst since a bombing at a Cairo church in December killed 30 people.
Late Sunday night, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called for a three-month state of emergency. According to Egypt’s constitution, parliament must vote in favor of such a declaration. That’s a virtual certainty because it is packed with supporters of the president. A state of emergency cannot exceed six months without a referendum to extend it.
The army chief-turnedpresident also dispatched elite troops across the country to protect key installations.
The attacks highlighted the difficulties confronting el-Sissi’s government in protecting Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of more than 90 million.
“Where is the government?” screamed an angry Maged Saleh, who rushed to the church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, where his mother had escaped the carnage. “There is no government!”
The first bomb exploded inside St. George’s Church in Tanta, killing at least 27 people and wounding 78, officials said.
“After the explosion, everything became dark from the smoke,” said Edmond Edward, who had been attending Mass with his brother, Emil, who suffered head wounds and leaned on him for support at a nearby hospital.
“There was a clear lapse in security, which must be tightened from now on to save lives,” Edward said.
A few hours later, a suicide bomber rushed toward St. Mark’s Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria, the historic seat of Christendom in Egypt, killing at least 17 people and wounding 48.
CCTV images showed a man with a blue sweater tied over his shoulders approaching the main gate to St. Mark’s and then being turned away by security and directed toward a metal detector. He passed a female police officer talking to another woman, and he entered a metal detector before an explosion engulfed the area.
The Health Ministry said six Muslims were among the dead in Alexandria.
Islamic State said in a statement that two Egyptian suicide bombers, named Abu Ishaq al Masri and Abu al Baraa al Masri, carried out the church attacks, and it vowed to continue attacks against Christians.
In response to the bombings, Israeli security officials asked Israeli tourists in Egypt’s neighboring Sinai peninsula to return home immediately.
Egypt’s Copts are one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East and have long complained of discrimination and that the government does not do enough to protect them. Security at churches is routinely increased around religious holidays.
The Copts largely supported the military overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, and incurred the wrath of many of his followers, who attacked churches and other Christian institutions. Although the Copts have stood steadfast alongside the government, an increase in attacks on Christians has tested that support.