43 die in IS Palm Sunday bombs

ISLAMIC State killed at least 43 people in twin Palm Sunday bombings at Christian churches in Egypt yesterday.

More than 100 people were wounded in the blasts at Coptic churches on one of the most important Christian celebration days.

A bomb went off inside St George’s Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, killing at least 27 people and wounding 78, officials said.

Just a few hours later, a suicide bomber rushed toward St Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, the historic heart of Christianity in Egypt, killing at least 16 people and wounding 41, the interior ministry said. A man in a blue pullover was caught on CCTV approaching the main gate to St Mark’s but being turned away and directed toward a metal detector.

The man then passed a female police officer and entered the metal detector before a explosion engulfed the area.

Edmond Edward was attending church in Tanta with his brother Emil, who was wounded in the blast.

He said: ‘After the explosion, everything became dark from the smoke.

‘There was a clear lapse in security, which must be tightened from now on to save lives.’ He added that the blast appeared to be centred near the altar and that the priest leading the service, Father Daniel, was wounded.

Pope Francis, who was marking Palm Sunday in St Peter’s Square in Rome and is due to visit Egypt this month, denounced the bombings, while US president Donald Trump tweeted that he was ‘so sad to hear of the terrorist attack’ against the US ally.

The Alexandria bombing was reportedly carried out by an Islamic State militant that the group identified as Abu Al-Baraa AlMasri, while the Tanta church bomber was named as Abu Ishaaq Al-Masri.