The twin bombings of churches in Egypt suggest that Islamic State group jihadists are lashing out as they find themselves coming under increasing pressure in Iraq and Syria, analysts say. The group’s Egyptian affiliate which claimed Sunday’s attacks in the Nile Delta cities of Tanta and Alexandria has been centred in the Sinai Peninsula, where … Read more
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has declared a state of emergency after two deadly bombings Sunday, the first at a church north of Cairo, the second hours later outside a church in Alexandria, that were claimed by the Islamic State group. “Islamic State squads carried out the attacks on two churches in Tanta and Alexandria,” … Read more
Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has announced a three-month state of emergency after attacks on two Coptic churches that left at least 44 dead. The measure allows authorities to make arrests without warrants and search people’s homes. It needs to be approved by parliament before it is implemented. So-called Islamic State (IS) said it was … Read more
Pope Francis have condemned the blast that killed at least 21 people and injured 50 Pope Francis, who is due to visit Egypt later this month, on Sunday (April 9), condemned the blast that killed at least 21 people and injured 50 a Coptic church in the Nile Delta. He also prayed for the victims … Read more
Two blasts targeting Coptic Christians in Egypt on Palm Sunday have killed at least 42 people, officials say. In Alexandria, an explosion outside St Mark’s Coptic church killed 13 people. Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending Mass inside and was unhurt, state media reported. An earlier blast at St George’s … Read more
The death toll has risen to at least 11 and 40 injured after a suicide bomber struck The death toll has risen to at least 11 and 40 injured after a suicide bomber struck in front of a church in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday, the Health Ministry said. The blast occurred hours after a bombing … Read more
At least 11 people were killed in an Alexandria church bombing on Sunday, hours after a blast killed 25 worshippers in another church in Egypt, the health ministry said. Thirty-five people were wounded in the Alexandria blast at Saint Mark’s church where Coptic Pope Tawadros II had been attending a Palm Sunday Mass. A Coptic … Read more
Egypt’s Copts, targets of an apparent church bombing north of Cairo on Sunday, are the Middle East’s largest Christian minority and one of the oldest. Making up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 90 million, the Coptic Orthodox form the largest Christian denomination in the Muslim-majority country. Here is a recap of their history, … Read more
A bomb blast at a church north of Cairo killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens who had gathered for Palm Sunday mass, state media reported, in the latest apparent attack on Egypt’s Coptic Christians. Some 40 people were wounded in the blast, which struck at a Coptic Church in the Nile Delta City … Read more
At least 13 people were killed Sunday when bomb blast went off in the vicinity of a church in the Egyptian city of Tanta north of Cairo, state media said. Some 40 people were also wounded in the blast, which struck as Egypt’s Coptic Christian community marked Palm Sunday, the reports said. A medical official … Read more
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has defended his country’s fight against the Islamic State group, after dozens of Christian families fled the Sinai Peninsula following a string of jihadist attacks. An IS affiliate waging an insurgency in the Sinai last week released a video calling for attacks on Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority. Dozens of families … Read more
Egyptian Coptic Christians fled the Sinai for a second day Saturday following a string of apparent jihadist attacks, as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi instructed his government to help shelter them. A church official said more families arrived in the Suez canal city of Ismailiya, a day after about 250 Copts sought shelter in one church … Read more
Dozens of Coptic Christian families in Egypt have fled North Sinai province after a number of killings in recent weeks by suspected Islamist militants. Many have now taken refuge in the Evangelical Church in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya. The Coptic Church has condemned the attacks, saying they were aimed at “dividing” Egyptians. On … Read more
Dozens of Coptic Christians have left Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula after a string of jihadist attacks killed three Christians in the restive province, church officials said on Friday. On Thursday, suspected Islamic State jihadists killed a member of the minority in the North Sinai city of El-Arish and set his house on fire, the third such … Read more
Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Monday started his first visit to Cairo since his election in October and held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “Hopes of the role that Egypt could play are high. An Egypt of moderation and openness… could launch an Arab rescue initiative based on a strategy to fight … Read more
The death toll from last weekend’s bombing of a Coptic church in Cairo has risen to 26 after an elderly woman died of her injuries, Egypt’s health ministry said Friday. Odette Saleh Mikhail, 70, was left in critical condition following last Sunday’s attack and underwent three operations, the ministry said in a statement. The suspected … Read more
An armed Muslim mob stripped an elderly Christian woman and paraded her naked on the streets amid rumors she had an affair, the local church, witnesses and security officials said. Seven Christian homes were also looted and torched in last week’s attack in a province south of the Egyptian capital. According to the local Orthodox … Read more