-Egypt: Palm Sunday Church Bombings Kill 45

Two Coptic Christian churches were bombed on Palm Sunday killing 45 and injuring over a hundred. ISIS took credit for the acts of terror. Incredibly one of the churches was Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, the historic seat of the Coptic Pope, which was bombed during a mass being conducted by Coptic Pope Tawadros who was not injured. Here’s the story from Reuters:

At least 44 people were killed in Egypt in bomb attacks at the cathedral of the Coptic Pope and another church on Palm Sunday, prompting anger and fear among Christians…

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which also injured more than 100 people and occurred a week before Coptic Easter, with Pope Francis scheduled to visit Egypt later this month.

The assault is the latest on a religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants, and a challenge to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has pledged to protect them as part of his campaign against extremism.

Response: Another show of violence and intolerance from adherents of the so-called ‘religion of peace.’ This happening during the holiest week of the year for Christians.

Acts like this against churches and the Christian community have become common place in Nigeria due to the radical attacks by the Boko Haram who claim to have their own Islamic state in the works. Now ISIS is targeting Christians and churches in a similar way in Egypt.

The ISIS radicals have officially declared war on the Christians in Egypt with the following statement:

“Crusaders and their apostate allies should know the bill between us and them is very big and they will pay it with rivers of blood from their children, god willing. Wait for us, for we will wait for you…”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi responded by putting the country on a three-month state of emergency. He also pledged to protect Egyptian  churches from future attacks.

Egypt has the largest community of Christians (9 million) left in the Middle East. Coptic Christians have been under increasing persecution and violence from radical Muslims over the last 10 years or so. This latest challenge from ISIS is the worst since there is no end in sight. Plus the Coptic Pope and church headquarters itself was targeted.               *Top