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| Africa North | |
| Three days of mourning declared in Cairo bomb attack, bomber identified | |
| 2016-12-13 | |
| [TheGuardian] Egypt has declared three days of mourning on Sunday after a bombing at a chapel adjacent to Egypt’s main Coptic Christian cathedral killed 25 people and wounded another 49. In a statement, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi encouraged Muslims and Coptic Christians to band together “to emerge victorious in the war against terrorism, which is the battle of all Egyptians”. He stressed that the government would be harsh in its response to the attack, one of the deadliest carried out against the religious minority in recent years. Those who pray regularly at St Mark’s Cathedral described a system of security within the compound that appeared strong, but could be lax. “People who commit such acts do so with impunity,” said one man, declining to be named as he stood close to the blast site and held up a small wooden cross. “There are normally police on both entrances to the cathedral and to the chapel.” Asked whether everyone who entered the cathedral compound was searched, he answered: “Sometimes yes, sometimes no”. As the death toll rose and nearby hospitals called for blood donations, there was grief and anger in the streets. Hundreds of people crowded outside the cathedral, including a large crowd of young men who made clear their complaints against conservative Muslim groups, Egypt’s ministry of the interior and even the president. “As long as any Egyptian blood is cheap, down with any president,” they chanted. “You ask for our emotions? Look in there,” said one man, pointing at the angry crowd. “What do you expect us to feel? People were killed while they were praying. They didn’t even die in their homes,” he said. The Egyptian government has staked its mandate on the fight against Islamist groups as well as the Sinai chapter of Islamic State. Protecting the minority Christian population is the cornerstone of this pledge, but Sunday’s attack caused some to question whether the government is living up to its promise to provide security to all Egyptians. “The government doesn’t protect us. They can’t protect us against terrorism in general,” said one man, who also wished to remain anonymous. “Lots of Christians supported the current regime out of fear of being targeted by Islamist extremists,” said Mina Thabet, an expert on religious minorities at the Cairo-based Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms. “Many Christians supported Sisi as he represented himself as a protecter of Christians against extreme groups. Today’s event may affect their support.” Other members of the Coptic community were unshaken in their support for Egypt’s government. “This is an injury to all Egyptians,” said Father Boules Haliem, spokesman for the Coptic Church of Egypt. “This is about more than the Coptic community, this is an attack on all Egyptians.” Sisi announces 22-year-old suicide bomber behind Cairo cathedral attack, four suspects arrested [AlAhram] The kaboom on Cairo’s cathedral complex on Sunday was carried out by a 22-year-old jacket wallah, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said during an address at a state funeral for the 24 victims of the blast. El-Sisi named the man as Mahmoud Shafiq Mohammed Mostafa. "Since yesterday the police have been gathering the scattered remains of Mahmoud Shafiq Mohammed Mostafa," Sisi said, adding that four people have been enjugged Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try! , including one woman, for alleged involvement in the incident, while two more suspects are being pursued. Twenty-four people were killed and 49 injured after a bomb went kaboom!inside a church attached to the Coptic cathedral in Cairo on Sunday, one of the deadliest attacks on Egyptian Christians in recent years. More suspects arrested in Cairo cathedral bombing - Interior ministry [AlAhram] The Ministry of Interior released Monday afternoon a statement saying that security forces have apprehended further suspects sought for their involvement in the deadly bombing of the Cairo Coptic cathedral complex on Sunday that left 24 people dead and 49 injured. Earlier on Monday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced in an address at a state funeral for victims of the blast that the attack was carried out by a 22-year-old suicide bomber named Mahmoud Shafiq Mohamed Mostafa, adding that four suspects had been arrested.
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| Posted by:Steve White |