- Title: Palm Sunday bombings of Egyptian Coptic churches kill 44
- Date: 9th April 2017
- Summary: TANTA, EGYPT (APRIL 9, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE INSIDE CHURCH
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2017 20:33
- Keywords: Egypt Church Explosion attck bombing
- Location: TANTA, EGYPT
- City: TANTA, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BOG37R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At least 44 people were killed in Egypt in bomb attacks at the cathedral of the Coptic Pope and another church on Palm Sunday (April 9), prompting anger and fear among Christians and leading to troop deployments and the declaration of a three-month state of emergency.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which also injured more than 100 people and occurred a week before Coptic Easter, with Pope Francis scheduled to visit Egypt later this month.
The assault is the latest on a religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants, and a challenge to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect them as part of his campaign against extremism.
The first bombing, in Tanta, a Nile Delta city about 100 km (60 miles) north of Cairo, tore through the inside of St. George Church during its Palm Sunday service, killing at least 27 people and injuring at least 78, the Ministry of Health said.
The second, a few hours later in Alexandria, hit Saint Mark's Cathedral, the historic seat of the Coptic Pope, killing 17 people, including three police officers, and injuring 48, the ministry added. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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