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Egypt declares state of emergency after Church bombings

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency after 44 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when two Coptic churches were attacked on Sunday.

Islamic State Sinai Province took responsibility for the bombings that targeted worshippers gathered in large numbers for Palm Sunday services in Tanta and Alexandria.

The first bombing, at the Mar Girgis church in Tanta, a Nile Delta city less than 100km from Cairo, killed 25 people and injured 78, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Health. The second attack, carried out just a few hours later at St Marks Cathedral in Alexandria, killed 11 people and injured 35. Three police officers were among the fatalities and early reports suggested they blocked the bomber from entering the Cathedral and causing more casualties. St Marks is the seat of the Coptic Pope Tawadros II who was inside the Cathedral at the time.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the world must unite and fight terrorism everywhere.  He sent a message offering condolences to the families of victims.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was “saddened and appalled” by the bombings and that “the UK continues to stand with Egypt against terrorism. These attacks only strengthen our determination to work together with the Egyptian government and people against this shared threat”.

This morning the IDF has closed the Taba crossing into the Sinai Peninsula after receiving high-level terror warnings. Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau yesterday re-issued a travel warning to Israelis not to visit Sinai due to the immediate threat posed to them. The Bureau advised Israelis already in Sinai to leave immediately.

Israel and Egypt cooperate closely in the fight against ISIS in Sinai and countering the military threat from Hamas in Gaza.

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt later this month.

He expressed his “deep condolences to my brother, Pope Tawadros II, the Coptic church and all of the dear Egyptian nation,” Pope Francis was leading Palm Sunday services in St. Peter’s Square when the attacks occurred. The pontiff asked God “to convert the hearts of those who spread terror, violence and death, and also the hearts of those who make, and traffic in, weapons”.