A bomb exploded in a church north of Cairo that was packed with Palm Sunday worshippers, killing at least 21 people and wounding 38 others, officials said.There was live TV coverage of the Palm Sunday services at the time. The video cuts out as you hear the explosion but the screams of the worshipers can be plainly heard.
The attack in the Nile Delta town of Tanta was the latest in a series of assaults on Egypt’s Christian minority, which makes up around 10 percent of the population and has been repeatedly targeted by Islamic extremists. It comes just weeks before Pope Francis is due to visit Egypt.
CBC TV showed footage from inside the church, where a large number of people gathered around what appeared to be lifeless, bloody bodies covered with papers. Magdi Awad, the head of the provincial ambulance service, confirmed the toll.
Here was the chaotic scene outside the church.
And here the bloody scene inside:
Previous bombings of Coptic churches have been claimed by Islamic State terrorists. Under the previous Muslim Brotherhood-led Egyptian government, many churches were burned and destroyed.
In contrast, the current Egyptian government tweeted this:
Terrorism hits Egypt again, this time on Palm Sunday. Another obnoxious but failed attempt against all Egyptians #united_on_PalmSunday— Egypt MFA Spokesman (@MfaEgypt) April 9, 2017
It is no wonder Christians are fleeing the Middle East as fast as they can.