ISIS claims responsibility for attack on Egyptian church which killed 37 people

Terror group, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attack on an Egyptian Coptic church which has claimed the lives of at least 37 people and injured 69 others in two separate attacks.

The first attack witnessed an explosion inside a church in the Egyptian Nile delta city of Tanta which killed 27 people, while 11 others were killed in a separate attack in front of a church in Alexandria.

Reports say Coptic church of Mar Girgis, also known as St George, was packed full with worshippers marking Palm Sunday, a Christian feast commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem when the explosion occurred.

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Several hours after the bombing in Tanta, another explosion hit in front of Saint Mark’s church in Alexandria, killing at least 11 people, the health ministry said.

Media reports said dozens were wounded in the attack, which state TV said was a suicide bombing.

Mahjoob Zweiri, associate professor at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera that Tanta has seen several attacks in the past.

“The area and Christians both have witnessed such accidents before. There is a good percentage of Christians in this area and other non-Muslims too,” Zweiri said.

“I believe when there are such religious events in the country, authorities should take security measures into consideration as there are always chances of attacks,” he added.

 

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