The rising wave of attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt has witnessed the killing of nine people who died when gunmen opened fire at a church in the south of Cairo.
Reports say the gunmen were intercepted by police who engaged them in a shootout after they suspected their movement around the area where the church is located.
Among the dead were three policemen who were on duty at Mar Mina church. One attacker was killed and his explosives belt defused, while another gunman managed to escape.
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Friday’s attack appears to have taken place when police patrolling the church noticed two men behaving suspiciously, reports the BBC’s Radwa Gamal in Cairo.
They approached the men, who began firing and according to reports, the explosives belt discovered on the dead assailant suggested an even more deadly attack was planned.
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