At least 28 people
have been killed, including children, and 22 injured after masked gunmen riding
in three SUVs attacked vehicles carrying Coptic Christians in Egypt.
The incident
occurred on Friday (26 May) in the Minya province, about 140 miles south of
Cairo, as the Copts were on their way from the Beni Suef province to the St.
Samuel Monastery, officials said.
The group was
traveling in two buses and a truck when they were stopped by masked gunmen,
Reuters reported.
Witnesses quoted
by Associated Press said there were between eight and 10 masked attackers
dressed in military uniforms.
Arab
TV stations showed images of a badly damaged bus along a roadside, many of its
windows shattered and with numerous bullet holes. Footage of the bus's interior
showed blood stains on the seats and shattered glass.
Khaled
Mogahed, the health ministry spokesman, said the death toll was 28 but feared
it could rise further. According to Copts United news portal, only three
children survived the attack.
No
group immediately claimed responsibility.
Islamic
State has claimed to have been behind a number of attacks in Egypt on Copts in recent
months.
Suicide
bombings targeting churches in Tanta and Alexandria on 9 April
left at least 45 people dead.
In
December last year, a suicide bomber killed at least 25 people, including many
women and children, and injured 49 after exploding 12kg of TNT inside a chapel
next to Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral in Cairo.
Egypt's
Christian minority, which makes up about 10% of the country's population, has
repeatedly complained of suffering discrimination and attacks at hands of the
country's majority Muslim population.
Last
month, Pope Francis visited the country in part to show his support for
Christians in Egypt, paying tribute to the victims of recent attacks.
Following the
Pope's visit, the Islamic State affiliate in Egypt vowed to escalate attacks
against Christians, urging Muslims to steer clear of Christian gatherings and
western embassies.
No comments:
Post a Comment