- Title: Eyewitnesses describe moments before bombs hit two Egyptian churches
- Date: 9th April 2017
- Summary: CROWDS TRYING TO GET IN THROUGH CHURCH GATE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SHOP OWNER AND EYEWITNESS, AMAL BEKHEIT, SAYING: "They said (it happened) on his way inside while he was being searched, just like we were all searched before we went inside. So while they were searching him they found something and when he was arrested he pushed the button and blew himself up, the two police officers were blown up, and the explosion hit all the people in its vicinity, this is what we saw and heard."
- Embargoed: 23rd April 2017 17:08
- Keywords: Egypt explosion Alexandria bomb church
- Location: ALEXANDRIA AND TANTA, EGYPT
- City: ALEXANDRIA AND TANTA, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0026BOFRD3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Eyewitnesses described the moments when two explosions hit two different Coptic Egyptian churches on Palm Sunday (April 9).
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks which have killed at least 36 people and injured more than 100 in the latest assault on a religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants.
The attacks took place a week before Easter and in the same month that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt.
The first bombing, in Tanta, a Nile Delta city less than 100 kilometres outside Cairo, killed at least 25 and injured at least 78, Egypt's Ministry of Health said.
The second, carried out just a few hours later by a suicide bomber in Alexandria, hit the historic seat of the Coptic Pope, killing 11, including three police officers, and injuring 35, the ministry added. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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