Egypt declares State of Emergency following terrorist attacks on Coptic churches
Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has announced a three-month state of emergency after attacks on two Coptic churches which left at least 44 dead.
Two suicide bombers carried out the blasts, one targeting St George’s Coptic church in the northern city of Tanta, where 27 people were killed, the health ministry said.
Hours later, police stopped the bomber from entering the St Mark’s Coptic church in Alexandria, also in the north. He detonated his explosives outside, leaving 17 dead, including several police officers.
photo/Islamic State flag
“Crusaders and their apostate allies should know the bill between us and them is very big and they will pay it with rivers of blood from their children, god willing. Wait for us, for we will wait for you,” the jihadist group said in a statement quoted by Reuters news agency.
Authorities would then empowered to make arrests without warrants and search people’s homes. The measure still needs to be approved by parliament before it is implemented.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the blasts in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunda, targeting Coptic Christians across Egypt and warning of more attacks.
Sisi made a defiant speech at the presidential palace after a meeting of the national defense council to discuss the explosions.
He warned that the war against the jihadists would be “long and painful”, and said that the state of emergency would come into force after all “legal and constitution steps” were taken.
The majority in parliament backs Sisi.
The president had earlier ordered the deployment of the military across the country to protect “vital and important infrastructure.”
The blasts came weeks before an expected visit by Pope Francis intended to show support for the country’s Christians, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s population and have long been persecuted and marginalized.
