At least 17 people dead, 48 injured after explosion at Coptic cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt

At least 17 people died and 48 were injured after an explosion on Palm Sunday at St Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, the Egyptian Health Ministry said. According to ONTV news, Health Minister Ahmed Emad confirmed the death toll had risen to 18. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called for a three-month state of emergency. The president also declared three days of national mourning following the attacks. The state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said the Alexandria explosion occurred shortly after Pope Tawadros II left the church, where he led Palm Sunday services. According to Al-Ahram, three Egyptian police officers were killed when they stopped a man with an explosive device from entering the church. He detonated it outside the church instead, killing all three. The bombing followed an earlier blast in Tanta, around 130km (80 miles) southeast of Alexandria, which killed at least 29 people and injured around 78. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared three days of national mourning following the attacks. Islamic State claimed responsibility via its Amaq news agency, saying: “A group that belongs to Islamic State carried out the two attacks on the churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria.”

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