21 people died in Egypt

EGYPT: In a suspected suicide bombing outside a church at least 21 people have been killed and more than 70 injured in Egypt in Alexandria as worshippers left a New Year service.

It was initially thought a car bomb had caused the explosion just after midnight at the Coptic orthodox al-Qidiseen church. But the interior ministry suggested a foreign-backed suicide bomber may have been responsible.

The blast did not originate in any of the cars that were destroyed, a ministry statement said. “It is likely that the device which exploded was carried by a suicide bomber who died among others.”

The circumstances of the attack “clearly indicates that foreign elements undertook planning and execution”, the statement said.

The governor of Alexandria, Adel Labib, accused al-Qaida of planning the bombing. “The al-Qaida organisation threatened to attack churches inside Egypt. This has nothing to do with sectarianism,” he told state television.
His assessment was shared by Kameel Sadeeq of the city’s Coptic Christian council. “People went in to church to pray to God but ended up as scattered limbs,” he told Reuters. “This massacre has al-Qaida written all over, the same pattern al-Qaida has adopted in other countries.”

Senior health ministry official Osama Abdel-Moneim said the death toll stood at 21 – a figure also reported by the state media – and at least 79 had been wounded. Health minister Hatem el-Gabaly told the Reuters news agency that 17 people had been confirmed dead, 12 of them identified as Christians. Five bodies had yet to be identified, he added.

Following the blast, hundreds of Christians took to the streets, clashing with police and Muslims. Some Christians and Muslims pelted each other with rocks after a mosque was reportedly targeted. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. The Reuters news agency reported that some of the protesting Christians had shouted: “We sacrifice our souls and blood for the cross.”

The interior ministry said the blast also damaged a mosque near the church and eight Muslims were among the wounded.

Nearly 1,000 Christians attended the mass at the church, according to a priest, Father Mena Adel. “I was inside the church and heard a huge explosion,” he said. “People’s bodies were in flames.”