Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Egypt: Bombing kills 22 at Coptic Christian cathedral in Cairo

Attack comes after six policemen were killed by a bomb in Cairo on Friday

Sunday 11 December 2016 11:34 GMT
Comments
A nun stands inside the damaged St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church after a bombing in Cairo, Egypt
A nun stands inside the damaged St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church after a bombing in Cairo, Egypt (EPA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Twenty-two people have been killed and another 35 wounded in a bombing at Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral, according to Egyptian state television, in the second deadly attack to hit the Egyptian capital in two days.

Egypt's official Mena news agency said an assailant lobbed a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of St Mark's Cathedral, seat of Egypt's Orthodox Christian church and home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.

On Friday, six policemen were killed in a bomb attack in Cairo claimed by a group suspected by authorities of links to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attack, which bore the hallmarks of Islamic militants fighting the government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

As defence minister, el-Sissi led the July 2013 ouster of Mohammed Morsi, an elected Islamist president who hails from the Brotherhood.

Islamist militants launched a wave of attacks on security forces and Christians in response, as the government waged a sweeping crackdown on Morsi's supporters and other activists.

AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in