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Africa North

Death toll rises to 20 25 in Cairo Coptic cathedral bombing

2016-12-11

An explosion on Sunday near the Cairo's Coptic cathedral killed at least 25 people and injured 35, Egyptian security sources said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

On Friday, two roadside bombs - one in Cairo and one north of the capital - killed six policemen and wounded six others.
#Breaking explosion reported in the St Mark Orthodox Cathedral in Abbassiya #Cairo, injuries reported pic.twitter.com/hcYTuXO6sD
-- Michael Horowitz (@michaelh992) December 11, 2016

Egyptian security forces are fighting an Islamist insurgency led by Islamic State's branch in North Sinai, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed. The insurgents have also launched deadly attacks Cairo and other cities.

Update from Al Ahram at 7:25 a.m. ET, their fifth update since the story broke:

The Coptic Church's official spokesperson Rev Paul Halim told Al-Ahram Arabic that the explosion took place in the small church of St Peter and St Paul (El-Botroseya), attached to the Coptic Cathedral.

A security source told the Middle East News Agency (MENA) that the explosion was caused by a 12 kilogramme TNT bomb.

Member of the Coptic Papal residence Samuel Metias told MENA that the explosion occurred in the ladies section of the St Peter and St Paul church. The St Mark Cathedral was left undamaged.

It could be Ansar Bayt al Maqdis/ISIS in the Sinai or it could be Hasm/Muslim Brotherhood, which has been getting feisty in the Cairo area recently.
Update from the same Al Ahram link at 2:00 p.m. ET: the number of injured increased to 49, mostly Copts, according to the Minister of Health, and President el Sisi declared three days of mourning.

Posted by:g(r)omgoru

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