CAIRO — As Coptic Christians buried more than 40 killed in terrorist bombings during Palm Sunday services in Egypt, the head of the Coptic Church urged believers to stand strong and be unified.
The first bomb exploded in the Nile Delta city of Tanta on April 9 at St. George’s Coptic Orthodox Church about 60 miles north of Cairo, killing at least 27 people and wounding 78 others. Hours later, a suicide bomber was stopped at the door of St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria, where he detonated explosives that reportedly killed at least 17 people and injured 48 others. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The head of the Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros II, was at the service in Alexandria and had finished addressing the congregation before the blast, according to reports. He was unhurt.
“These acts will not harm the unity and cohesion of the people,” Tawadros said later through state media.
The bombings were the latest in a series of assaults on Christians in Egypt, who make up about 10 percent of the population.
The Birmingham (Ala.) Islamic Society (BIS) released a statement April 9 condemning the “cowardly and heinous attack … on one of the most holy holidays in the Christian calendar.”
“Muslims of the greater Birmingham area demand justice for the victims of this terrorist attack and swift action by the Egyptian authority to investigate and punish those responsible to the maximum extent allowed by law,” the statement said.
Ashfaq Taufique, BIS president, said, “Our hearts are saddened by the death of innocent worshippers, not to mention our anger on such blatant violations of Islamic principles in attacking people just because of their faith.” (MS, TAB)
Share with others: