Cairo Coptic church bombing kills at least 25
Egypt starts three days of national mourning after Christians are targeted during Sunday mass
At least 25 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a bomb blast at a chapel next to Cairo's main Coptic cathedral.
The explosion took place during Sunday mass at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, which lies adjacent to St Mark's Cathedral, the headquarters of the Christian Coptic Orthodox church and the home of its leader, Pope Tawadros II. A three-day period of mourning has been declared.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi condemned the attack and called for those responsible to be punished.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
He added: "Vicious terrorism is being waged against the country's Copts and Muslims. Egypt will emerge stronger and more united from this situation."
Coptic Christians, one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land, make up about ten per cent of Egypt's population.
The bombing is the deadliest suspected attack on the country's Christian minority in recent memory. However, Mohamad Elmasry, an associate professor of media and cultural studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera the "barbaric attack against Coptic Christians is not an aberration".
He said: "[It] represents the continuation of a cycle of violence that has continued unabated since Egypt's July 2013 military coup."
Copts have often complained of persecution and discrimination from Egypt's Muslim majority "and violence between Muslim and Christian communities has repeatedly broken out in poor and rural areas, often triggered by land disputes", says The Guardian.
So far, there has been no claim of responsibility, "but jihadists in Sinai have targeted Christians before, as well as Muslims they accuse of working with the government", says Sky News.
In 2013, Copt churches and homes of members were attacked in retaliation for the overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and the security forces' subsequent deadly dispersal of his supporters from two squares in Cairo, which claimed the lives of hundreds of people.
Human Rights Watch claimed more than 40 Coptic churches were attacked nationwide after the crackdown.
A 2011 suicide bombing also killed 21 worshippers outside a church in the coastal city of Alexandria.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine solutions - November 29, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 29, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - November 29, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 29, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
What are Trump's plans for public health?
Today's Big Question From abortion access to vaccine mandates
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published