Church bombing suspects allegedly participants of Rabaa sit-in: state media

Attacks occurred in recent months, leaving dozens killed and more injured

Further information has been released about suspects arrested in connection to the attack on St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church and Palm Sunday’s terror attacks on churches in Alexandria and Tanta.

State media claimed that confessions by detainees allegedly involved in the attacks revealed during investigations that they were among armed participants in Rabaa sit-in of the Muslim Brotherhood and that a number of them joined al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State, as well as being trained in camps of these organisations in Libya.

They also admitted that they believe in the ideologies of these terror organisations, as well as having targeted military and interior ministry personnel and judicial authority officials.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi participated with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and US president Donald Trump in inaugurating the Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology (GCCEI) on Sunday.

This came following the conclusion of the US-Arab-Islamic Summit that was held in attendance of 56 leaders of Muslim countries and Trump.

During the summit, Al-Sisi gave a speech on elements assisting in countering terrorism. He noted that the comprehensive confrontation of these organistions requires addressing all dimensions of funding and arming, as well as political and ideological support.“A terrorist is not only the one who carries arms, but also the one who trains, funds, arms, and offers a political and ideological cover,” Al-Sisi said.

In April, attacks occurred against Mar Girgis Church in Tanta and St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, leaving more than 40 people killed and over 100 injured.The so-called Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility.