A bomb exploded Sunday at St. George’s church in Egypt’s Al Gharbeyya governorate, killing and injuring dozens.
The explosion in Tanta left 21 dead and 42 injured, according to state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper. According to preliminary reports in state media, a bomb had been placed inside the church underneath a seat.
In response to the attack, an emergency room has been set up by Egypt’s security departments. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi also issued an order for military hospitals to treat all those injured.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Al-Azhar, the highest Sunni Islamic authority in Egypt, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the attack.
This is the second attack to strike Tanta in less than 10 days. On 31 March, at least 16 people were injured when a bomb exploded outside a police training centre.
The explosion comes as Coptic Christians started celebrations for Palm Sunday.
This is the second church bombing to strike Egypt in six months. In December, dozens were killed after a bomb struck a chap connected to St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo. ISIS claimed responsibility for the December 2016 attack.
The story is still developing.
