Christians killed in church shootout
A gunman on a motorcycle opened fire yesterday outside a church in a Cairo suburb and at a nearby store, sparking a shootout that killed at least nine people, including eight Coptic Christians, authorities said.
It was the latest attack targeting Egypt’s embattled Christian minority. The gunman was also killed, along with at least one police officer, officials said.
The local affiliate of Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack began when the gunman tried to break through a security cordon outside the Coptic Church of Mar Mina. It was not clear how many assailants were involved.
Five people were wounded, including another police officer, Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said.
The attack came amid tightened security around churches and Christian facilities ahead of the Coptic Orthodox Christian celebrations of Christmas on January 7. Police have been stationed outside churches and in nearby streets across Cairo. Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi has personally chaired meetings with his top security chiefs in recent days to discuss security during New Year’s Eve and the Orthodox Christmas.
Samir Gerges, a witness to the church attack, said people inside the church closed its gates when the shooting began but some bullets penetrated the building. He said he saw people running and some taking cover in a nearby restaurant.
Since December 2016, Egypt’s Copts have been targeted by Islamist militants in a series of attacks that has left more than 100 dead and scores wounded. The country has been under a state of emergency since April, after suicide bombings struck two Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday.
Just last week, hundreds of Muslim demonstrators stormed an unlicensed church south of Cairo, wounding three people.