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Monday 10 april 2017

Suicide bombers kill 44 at Palm Sunday services in Egypt

HAMZA HENDAWI stallations and accused church broadcast by Many of them had blood and entered a metal de-
Associated Press unidentified countries of CBC TV showed people on their white robes,” she tector before an explosion
TANTA, Egypt (AP) — Sui- fueling instability, saying gathered around what told the AP. The more seri- engulfed the area.
cide bombers struck that “Egyptians have foiled appeared to be lifeless, ously wounded then were The Health Ministry said six
hours apart at two Coptic Muslims were among the
churches in northern Egypt, dead in Alexandria.
killing 44 people and turn- Pope Tawadros II had held
ing Palm Sunday services Palm Sunday services at
into scenes of horror and the cathedral and the tim-
outrage at the govern- ing of the attack indicated
ment that led the president the bomber had sought to
to call for a three-month assassinate him.
state of emergency. Pope Francis marked Palm
The Islamic State group Sunday in St. Peter’s Square
claimed responsibility for by expressing “deep con-
the violence, adding to dolences to my brother,
fears that extremists are Pope Tawadros II, the Cop-
shifting their focus to civil- tic church and all of the
ians, especially Egypt’s dear Egyptian nation.”
Christian minority. Magdy George Youssef,
The attacks in the northern a deacon at St. George’s,
cities of Tanta and Alexan- said the church was almost
dria that also left 126 peo- full when the blast oc-
ple wounded came at the curred and threw him un-
start of Holy Week lead- der a pew.
ing up to Easter, and just “All I could think of was to
weeks before Pope Francis find my wife, and all I could
is due to visit. People gather outside the St. George’s Church after a suicide bombing, in the Nile Delta town of see was smoke, blood and
Pope Tawadros II, the lead- Tanta, Egypt, Sunday, April 9, 2017. Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in the northern Egyp- completely charred bod-
er of the Coptic church tian cities of Tanta and Alexandria as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing over 40 ies,” the distraught 58-year-
who will meet with Francis people and wounding scores more in assaults claimed by the Islamic State group. old said. Youssef, who suf-
on April 28-29, was in the (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) fered only an injured ear,
Alexandra cathedral at plots and efforts by coun- bloody bodies covered carried out by other survi- later found his wife at
the time of the bombing tries and fascist, terrorist with papers. Several doors vors and taken to hospitals home, with burns to her
but was unhurt, the Interior organizations that tried to had been blown off. Wom- in private cars, she said. face.
Ministry said. control Egypt.” en wailed outside. Hundreds of residents IS said in a statement
It was the single deadliest The attacks highlighted the “After the explosion, every- gathered in the area, and that two Egyptian suicide
day for Christians in de- difficulties facing el-Sissi’s thing became dark from church members blocked bombers named Abu
cades and the worst since government in protect- the smoke,” said Edmond people from entering the Ishaq al Masri and Abu al
a bombing at a Cairo ing Christians, who make Edward, attending Mass church as police cordoned Baraa al Masri carried out
church in December killed up about 10 percent of with his brother, Emil, who off the area. the church attacks and
30 people. Egypt’s population. suffered head wounds and A few hours later, a sui- vowed to continue attacks
Late Sunday night, Presi- “Where is the govern- leaned on him for support cide bomber rushed to- against Christians.
dent Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi ment?” screamed an an- at a nearby hospital. ward St. Mark’s Cathedral “What happened is a dan-
called for a three-month gry Maged Saleh, who “There was a clear lapse in the coastal city of Alex- gerous indicator that shows
state of emergency. Ac- rushed to the church in in security, which must be andria, the historic seat of how easy it is to attack a
cording to Egypt’s constitu- the Nile Delta city of Tanta tightened from now on to Christendom in Egypt, kill- large gathering of people
tion, parliament must vote where his mother escaped save lives,” he told The As- ing at least 17 people and in different places,” said
in favor of such a declara- the carnage. “There is no sociated Press. The blast wounding 48. researcher Ishaq Ibrahim
tion — a virtual certainty government!” appeared to be centered CCTV images showed a with the Egyptian Initiative
since it is packed with sup- The first bomb exploded near the altar, he said. man with a blue sweater for Personal Rights. “There
porters of the president. It inside St. George’s Church Susan Mikhail, whose tied over his shoulders ap- is a complete government
cannot exceed six months in Tanta, killing at least 27 apartment balcony across proaching the main gate failure in taking the IS threat
without a referendum to people and wounding 78, the street has a clear view to St. Mark’s and then be- seriously.”
extend it. officials said, overturning of the church and its front ing turned away by secu- El-Sissi said in a statement
The army chief-turned- pews, shattering windows yard, said the explosion vi- rity and directed toward a that Sunday’s attacks
president also dispatched and staining the white- olently shook her building. metal detector. He passed would only strengthen
elite troops across the washed walls with blood. “Deacons were the first a female police officer the resolve of Egyptians
country to protect key in- Video from inside the to run out of the church. talking to another woman, against “evil forces.” q