homeWorld

Egypt declares state of emergency following Palm Sunday church bombings that killed 44 worshippers

Egypt's special forces members take position after an attack by a suicide bomber in front of a church in Alexandria, Egypt, April 9, 2017. | Reuters/Fawzy Abdel Hamied

The Egyptian government has announced a three-month state of emergency after ISIS carried out attacks on two Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday, killing at least 44 people and injuring over 100.

The first attack occurred at St. George Church in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, where at least 27 people dead, and 78 others were wounded, according to the officials.

The second attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who attempted to storm St. Mark's Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria. At least 17 people were killed, and 48 were injured in the bombing that came just after Pope Tawadros II, the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, finished conducting services. Aides have told the local media that Tawadros was unharmed.

The Egyptian Cabinet will be allocating 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($5,530) as compensation to the families of each victim in the two church bombings, according to CNN.

ISIS has taken credit for the attacks and warned of more to come. "The Crusaders and their apostate followers must be aware that the bill between us and them is very large, and they will be paying it like a river of blood from their sons, if God is willing," the terrorist group stated in Arabic.

Following the blasts, the Egyptian government has formed a council to counter terror and extremism, and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared a period of mourning.

"The attack will not undermine the resolve and true will of the Egyptian people to counter the forces of evil," Sisi said in a statement.

The three-month, nationwide state of emergency was announced on the website of the Egyptian Cabinet on Monday and went into effect at 1 p.m. Cairo time (7 a.m. ET).

"The state of emergency allows both the armed forces and the police to execute those procedures necessary to combat the threats of terrorism and its financing, maintain security around the country and protect public and private property, as well as preserving the lives of citizens," the statement said.

The three-month initiative must be approved by the Egyptian parliament for it to remain in effect. The parliament is expected to approve the decision, but it wants Prime Minister Sherif Ismail to explain the reasons behind the move.

ISIS has claimed that the bombers were Egyptian nationals, but the authorities have not confirmed their nationalities.