The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as
ISIS) armed group on Sunday claimed responsibility for both attacks, in a
statement via its Amaq website. It said they were carried out by two of its
fighters wearing suicide vests.
The first attack occurred in the Coptic church of Mar Girgis, also
known as St George, which was packed with worshippers marking Palm Sunday, a
Christian feast commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, killing
27 people, the health ministry said.
Egypt's state television reported that at least 71 people were
wounded in the attack.
Several hours after the bombing in Tanta, another explosion hit in
front of Saint Mark's church in Alexandria, where Coptic Pope Tawadros II was
leading a service.
Egypt's state media said at least 16 people, including seven
police officers, were killed in the suicide bomb attack.
The ministry said Tawadros was unharmed, and a church official
said he had left the church before the bombing.
At least 78 people were wounded in Tanta and another 40 wounded in
Alexandria, the health ministry said.
Egyptian officials denounced the violence as an attempt to sow
divisions in the country, while Francis sent his “deep condolences” to
Tawadros.
The worshippers had been celebrating Palm Sunday, one of the
holiest days of the Christian calendar, marking the triumphant entrance of
Jesus to Jerusalem.
- Pope prays for victims -
Francis, who is due to visit Cairo on April 28-29, offered prayers
for the victims.
“Let us pray for the victims of the attack unfortunately carried
out today,” he said in an Angelus prayer.
“May the Lord convert the heart of those who sow terror, violence
and death and also the heart of those who make weapons and trade in them.”
It has been announced that the Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah
el-Sissi will declare a state of emergency for three months following the
attacks.
0 comments:
Post a Comment