with Morning Star News
Bomb attacks on two Coptic churches holding Palm Sunday services in Egypt today killed at least 44 people and injured more than 100 others, according to reports.
The first bomb exploded in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, at St George’s Church about 95 kilometres north of Cairo, killing at least 27 people and wounding 78 others, according to wire reports. Hours later, a suicide bomber was stopped at the door of St Mark’s Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria, where he detonated explosives that reportedly killed at least 17 people and injured 48 others. Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The head of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, was at the service in Alexandria and had finished addressing the congregation before the blast, according to reports. He was unhurt. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt this month.
“These acts will not harm the unity and cohesion of the people,” Pope Tawadros later said through state media.
Security forces reportedly also dismantled two explosive devices at Sidi Abdel Rahim Mosque in Tanta.
The bombings were the latest in a series of assaults on Christians in Egypt, who make up about 10 per cent of the population. A bombing in the suburbs of Cairo at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, also known as the Al Boutrosya Chapel, on 11th December killed at least 25 people and wounded at least 49. The chapel is next to the St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, which is held by many as the spiritual center of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
The bombing was followed by a series of murders of Coptic Christians, with IS issuing threats on a 19th February video promising to rid the country of “idolaters”. Seven Copts were killed in one month.
The World Council of Churches has condemned the attacks, with General Secretary Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit saying that “In the face of this brutality, the human family, all people of faith and of good will, must stand together to recommit to respecting and caring for one another, to protecting one another, and to preventing such violence.”
The WCC have appealed to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, to religious leaders and to governments across the region “to act swiftly and boldly to safeguard the fundamental religious rights of worshippers of all faiths, to ensure security in the face of violence and to guarantee justice for all people. Places of worship representing many different faith traditions have been targets of violence by extremists”.
“Government action must be matched by solidarity among Muslims, Christians and people of all faiths as they interact at the local level and together denounce any violent attack,” said Rev Dr Tveit.
The attack comes in the same month as Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt.
Egypt has declared a three month state of emergency in the wake of the attacks.
