By Victor Ochieng
A report by CBN News says that 10 people lost their lives in an attack against a Coptic Christian church in a suburb of south Cairo. The killings were executed by unknown gunmen who opened fire at the church.
Authorities quickly moved in to investigate the situation and have since cordoned off the scene. Different reports, however, gave some conflicting information about the exact number of those who lost their lives as a result of the deadly attack. The information released by the interior ministry and that of the health ministry differed, including the report on the number of the dead.
According to Samir Gerges, who witnessed the gun attack, the church’s gates were all closed, but the bullets were able to penetrate the building and cause losses of sickening magnitude.
“Once the gunfire was heard, the gates were closed immediately,” another witness called Raouth Atta told The Associated Press over the phone. “People were terrified and wanted to check on their families in other buildings of the church. We stayed inside for 30 minutes before we were able to get out.”
This just adds to the list of attacks that have been directed against Christians in the country. Egypt has been under a state of emergency since April 2017, following an attack by Islamic extremists against Coptic Christian churches located during Palm Sunday. The attack claimed 47 lives. In December 2016, another attack against the country’s Christian community resulted in the death of 29 people.
According to the initial account of the incident, as given by the health ministry, the attack left 12 people dead and said the attackers were two. Of the two, the ministry said one was killed and the other fled, but was later captured.
In 2017 alone, more than 100 Christians lost their lives in unexplained attacks, with the Islamic State claiming responsibility for most of them.
In the wake of the attacks, security agencies have beefed up security, including increased checkpoints around Cairo.
Early last week, security officials announced plans to heighten security to protect revelers during the festivities around the turn of the year, as well as January 7, which is the day for Coptic Christmas. Some of the measures put in place by the authorities include the strategic deployment of rapid-response forces, combat troops, as well as communication jamming equipment.
According to reports released by the country’s interior ministry, the first Friday attack occurred at a household items shop before the attacker moved to Saint Mina Coptic church, where his tried “to trespass the church’s perimeter security.”
“The security forces have dealt with the attacker and managed to arrest him after he was injured,” the ministry said.
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