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Egypt: bomb blast at Cairo Coptic cathedral kills at least 25 people Egypt: bomb blast at Cairo Coptic cathedral kills at least 25 people
(about 1 hour later)
A bomb blast at Egypt’s main Coptic Christian cathedral has killed at least 25 people, state media said.A bomb blast at Egypt’s main Coptic Christian cathedral has killed at least 25 people, state media said.
The attack on the Cairo church, at about 10am (0800 GMT) on Sunday morning, was one of the deadliest against the country’s Christian minority in recent memory. The attack on the Cairo church, at about 10am (0800 GMT) on Sunday, was one of the deadliest against the country’s Christian minority in recent memory.
Another 35 people were injured, Egyptian state TV reported, when the bomb exploded in a chapel close to the outer wall of St Mark’s Cathedral, the seat of Egypt’s Orthodox Christian church and home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.Another 35 people were injured, Egyptian state TV reported, when the bomb exploded in a chapel close to the outer wall of St Mark’s Cathedral, the seat of Egypt’s Orthodox Christian church and home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.
There were conflicting reports as to the nature of the attack. Egypt’s official Mena news agency said an assailant threw a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of the cathedral, but some witnesses suggested an explosive device had been planted inside the building.There were conflicting reports as to the nature of the attack. Egypt’s official Mena news agency said an assailant threw a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of the cathedral, but some witnesses suggested an explosive device had been planted inside the building.
“I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible scene,” said cathedral worker Attiya Mahrous, who rushed to the chapel after he heard the blast. His clothes and hands were stained with blood and his hair matted with dust.An Associated Press reporter witnessed bloodstained pews and shards of glass scattered across the chapel’s floor shortly after the blast, as men and women wailed and cried outside the chapel. Ambulances lined up outside the church in the capital’s Abbasiya district to evacuate the dead and wounded. Amal Louka, who works with a service for disabled people at the cathedral, said she was in a meeting in an adjacent church when she heard the explosion.
A crowd gathered outside the church chanting: “Tell the sheikh, tell the priest, Egyptians’ blood is not cheap.” Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s population of 90 million, faced persecution and discrimination during the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled by a popular uprising in 2011. On New Year’s Day in 2011, shortly before the beginning of the uprising against Mubarak, a suicide bomber killed 21 worshippers outside a church in the coastal city of Alexandria. “We heard a very loud noise – it felt as if the church was falling down,” she said. “When we got to the scene, there was a lot of blood and severed body parts as well as many corpses on the floor. The explosion had hit the women’s area of the church, so most of the casualties were women.”
They have faced further attacks at the hands of Islamist extremists since the 2013 military overthrow of the democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi, who hailed from the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement. Morsi’s supporters accused Christians of supporting his ouster, which came after millions of protesters took to the streets demanding his resignation. Cathedral worker Attiya Mahrous, who rushed to the chapel after he heard the blast, said: “I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible scene. His clothes and hands were stained with blood and his hair matted with dust.
An Associated Press reporter saw bloodstained pews and shards of glass scattered across the chapel’s floor shortly after the blast, as people wailed and cried outside the chapel. Ambulances lined up outside the church in the capital’s Abbasiya district to evacuate the dead and wounded.
Dr Maha Halim gathered with hundreds of others to express their grief at the entrance to the cathedral in the hours after the bombing. “They timed [the attack] to the prayers, to kill as many people as possible,” she said. “There is obviously a feeling of grief, but this will not shake Egypt.”
A crowd of young men began chanting against Salafis, a sect of extremely conservative Muslims. The chants quickly turned political, amid fierce arguments between some members of the crowd as to who might be responsible for the attack. “As long as any Egyptian blood is cheap, down with any president,” they chanted.
Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s population of 90 million, faced persecution and discrimination during the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled by a popular uprising in 2011. On New Year’s Day in 2011, shortly before the beginning of the uprising against Mubarak, a suicide bomber killed 21 worshippers outside a church in the coastal city of Alexandria.
They have faced further attacks at the hands of Islamist extremists since the 2013 military overthrow of the democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi from the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement. Morsi’s supporters accused Christians of supporting his ousting, which came after millions of protesters took to the streets demanding his resignation.
On 14 August 2013, mobs attacks dozens of churches across the country after police killed hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters in Cairo.On 14 August 2013, mobs attacks dozens of churches across the country after police killed hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters in Cairo.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday’s attack.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday’s attack.
Bishop Anba Angaelos, the general bishop of the Coptic Orthodox church in the UK, said the news of the bombing in Egypt had been received with “great sadness”.Bishop Anba Angaelos, the general bishop of the Coptic Orthodox church in the UK, said the news of the bombing in Egypt had been received with “great sadness”.
“Our prayers are with those whose lives have been so senselessly ended, those who have been injured, and every family and community affected,” he said. “We also pray for every Coptic parish and community across Egypt as they fill their churches this morning, as well as for the broader Egyptian society that fall victim to similar inhumane attacks.”“Our prayers are with those whose lives have been so senselessly ended, those who have been injured, and every family and community affected,” he said. “We also pray for every Coptic parish and community across Egypt as they fill their churches this morning, as well as for the broader Egyptian society that fall victim to similar inhumane attacks.”
Egypt’s Copts make up the largest Christian community in the Middle East. The church is said to have been established by St Mark in approximately AD42 and survived the rise of Islam in the region from the seventh century.Egypt’s Copts make up the largest Christian community in the Middle East. The church is said to have been established by St Mark in approximately AD42 and survived the rise of Islam in the region from the seventh century.
Copts have often complained of discrimination against them from Egypt’s Muslim majority, particularly over acquiring permits for the construction or maintenance of churches. Violence between Muslim and Christian communities has repeatedly broken out in poor and rural areas, often triggered by land disputes.Copts have often complained of discrimination against them from Egypt’s Muslim majority, particularly over acquiring permits for the construction or maintenance of churches. Violence between Muslim and Christian communities has repeatedly broken out in poor and rural areas, often triggered by land disputes.
Although not immune from violence under Mubarak, he was seen as offering protection from Islamists.Although not immune from violence under Mubarak, he was seen as offering protection from Islamists.