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| Egypt's Coptic churches hit by deadly blasts on Palm Sunday | Egypt's Coptic churches hit by deadly blasts on Palm Sunday |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two blasts targeting Coptic Christians in Egypt on Palm Sunday have killed at least 45 people, officials say. | |
| In Alexandria, an explosion outside St Mark's Coptic church killed 16 people. Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending Mass inside and was unhurt, state media reported. | |
| An earlier blast at St George's Coptic church in Tanta killed 29 people. | An earlier blast at St George's Coptic church in Tanta killed 29 people. |
| So-called Islamic State (IS) says it is behind the explosions. The group has recently targeted Copts in Egypt. | So-called Islamic State (IS) says it is behind the explosions. The group has recently targeted Copts in Egypt. |
| Following the attacks, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi ordered military deployments to protect "vital and important infrastructure" across the country, the government said in a statement. | |
| Four police officers, including one policewoman, were among those killed in Alexandria, the interior ministry said. The suicide bomber blew himself up after they stopped him from entering the church. | Four police officers, including one policewoman, were among those killed in Alexandria, the interior ministry said. The suicide bomber blew himself up after they stopped him from entering the church. |
| The first explosion in Tanta, 94km (58 miles) north of Cairo, took place near the altar. | The first explosion in Tanta, 94km (58 miles) north of Cairo, took place near the altar. |
| "I saw pieces of body parts and broken seats. There was so much blood everywhere, some people had half of their bodies missing. The first three rows [inside the church] were destroyed," Nabil Nader, an eyewitness, said. | |
| Security forces later dismantled two explosive devices at the Sidi Abdel Rahim Mosque, also in Tanta, the state-run Al-Ahram news website reports. | Security forces later dismantled two explosive devices at the Sidi Abdel Rahim Mosque, also in Tanta, the state-run Al-Ahram news website reports. |
| The explosions injured at least 71 people in Tanta and 35 others in Alexandria, the health ministry said. | The explosions injured at least 71 people in Tanta and 35 others in Alexandria, the health ministry said. |
| The Egyptian government announced three days of mourning. | |
| The blasts appear to have been timed for maximum impact, as people gathered to mark Palm Sunday. It is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, marking the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. | The blasts appear to have been timed for maximum impact, as people gathered to mark Palm Sunday. It is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, marking the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. |
| Egyptian security forces had been put on alert in anticipation of attacks. | Egyptian security forces had been put on alert in anticipation of attacks. |
| The explosions come weeks before an expected visit by Pope Francis intended to show support for the country's Christian minority. He condemned the attacks. | |
| "I pray for the dead and the injured, and I am close in spirit to the family members [of the victims] and to the entire community," the Pope said. | "I pray for the dead and the injured, and I am close in spirit to the family members [of the victims] and to the entire community," the Pope said. |
| The Copts and Egypt: By Sebastian Usher, BBC Arab affairs editor | The Copts and Egypt: By Sebastian Usher, BBC Arab affairs editor |
| The Copts are one of the most ancient Christian communities and the largest still left in the Middle East. But they have long felt vulnerable and marginalised. This sense of precariousness has only increased in recent years, with the rise of violent jihadism in parts of Egypt. | The Copts are one of the most ancient Christian communities and the largest still left in the Middle East. But they have long felt vulnerable and marginalised. This sense of precariousness has only increased in recent years, with the rise of violent jihadism in parts of Egypt. |
| The country's political and Muslim religious leaders have tried to provide reassurance that they stand united with the Copts - and have portrayed the recent upsurge in attacks as an attempt by extremists to sow division. | The country's political and Muslim religious leaders have tried to provide reassurance that they stand united with the Copts - and have portrayed the recent upsurge in attacks as an attempt by extremists to sow division. |
| But in recent months, Coptic families have been fleeing the northern Sinai after a series of murders and assaults. | But in recent months, Coptic families have been fleeing the northern Sinai after a series of murders and assaults. |
| Their trust in the state's ability and willingness to protect them will now be even more deeply shaken - as bombs desecrate Palm Sunday, fulfilling a rash of recent threats by the Islamic State group to intensify their violence against Christians in Egypt. | Their trust in the state's ability and willingness to protect them will now be even more deeply shaken - as bombs desecrate Palm Sunday, fulfilling a rash of recent threats by the Islamic State group to intensify their violence against Christians in Egypt. |
| Pope Tawadros II told local TV that "sinful acts will not undermine the unity and coherence of the Egyptian people in the face of terrorism". | Pope Tawadros II told local TV that "sinful acts will not undermine the unity and coherence of the Egyptian people in the face of terrorism". |
| In the UK, the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop Angaelos, condemned the "senseless and heartless brutality" of the attacks. | In the UK, the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop Angaelos, condemned the "senseless and heartless brutality" of the attacks. |
| Violence against the religious minority has risen in recent years, especially since 2013, when the military overthrew the elected president and launched a crackdown against Islamists. | Violence against the religious minority has risen in recent years, especially since 2013, when the military overthrew the elected president and launched a crackdown against Islamists. |
| Some supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood, blamed Christians for supporting the overthrow. | Some supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood, blamed Christians for supporting the overthrow. |
| In February, IS warned of more attacks against Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt's population. | In February, IS warned of more attacks against Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt's population. |
| What is the Coptic Christian faith? | What is the Coptic Christian faith? |
| The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has about a million members outside the country. | The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has about a million members outside the country. |
| Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria - the head of their church. | Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria - the head of their church. |
| This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land. | This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land. |
| The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. | The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. |
| The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Many believe that continues to this day. | The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Many believe that continues to this day. |
| More about the Coptic Orthodox Church | More about the Coptic Orthodox Church |
| Copts in Egypt: Recent developments | Copts in Egypt: Recent developments |