Suicide bomb attack on church thwarted

CAIRO — An attempted suicide bombing Aug. 11 at a Christian church outside Cairo was foiled by Egyptian security forces, state media reported.

A suicide bomber was denied entry to the Coptic Virgin Mary Church in the suburban town of Mostorod, just north of the capital. The bomber died after detonating an explosive belt on a bridge outside the church, the state-run Al Ahram newspaper reported. Reports said no one else was harmed in the attack.

The attempted bombing targeted worshipers gathered to celebrate the annual Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Egyptian Copts, which make about 10 percent of the Egyptian population, are the largest Christian community in the Middle East and have long been the target of violent attacks. In 2017, ISIS claimed responsibility for bombings at two Coptic churches that resulted in at least 45 deaths.

Despite religious freedom provisions in the Egyptian constitution, Christians in Egypt face routine discrimination in the Muslim-majority country. Egypt ranks 17th on Open Doors’ 2018 World Watch List of countries where its most dangerous to follow Jesus. (TAB)