Egypt Mourns 25 Christians Killed in Massive Church Bombing

Egypt Mourns 25 Christians Killed in Massive Church Bombing
Security forces examine the scene inside the St. Mark Cathedral in central Cairo, on Dec. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
The Associated Press
12/12/2016
Updated:
12/12/2016

CAIRO—Egypt’s Coptic community held a funeral service on Monday for 25 Christians killed in a bombing the previous day at a church next to the main cathedral in Cairo—one of the deadliest attacks targeting the country’s religious minority in recent memory.

The bomb went off during Sunday Mass at a chapel adjacent to St. Mark’s Cathedral, seat of the ancient Coptic Orthodox church. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

The coffins of the victims were laid in front of the altar, with their names displayed on the side facing the congregation and on the church walls.

Candles and large big crosses made of white roses stood next to the coffins.

The spiritual leader of Egypt’s Orthodox Christians, Pope Tawadros II, led the service. At one point, the visibly distraught pontiff leaned on his staff and quietly prayed in front of the coffins. He had cut short a visit to Greece and flew home on Sunday after the bombing.

Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

“God, protect us and your people from the conspiracies of the evil ones,” prayed the Coptic pope, who venerated the coffins with incense.

Only victims’ relatives were allowed to attend the service at the Virgin Mary and St. Athanasius church in the eastern Cairo suburb of Nasr City. Some of them screamed out in grief or shouted out a victim’s name, while the rest quietly sobbed or sat somberly during the service.

Outside the church, scores scuffled with security forces when they were barred from attending the service. An unspecified number of arrests were made, several witnesses said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared for their safety.

“The Mother of the Martyrs .... crossed the seas of agonies,” the congregation sang, alluding to the Orthodox Church. Some of the women at the service ululated, a ritual meant to signify the victims are martyrs who will go to Heaven.

Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Scores of black-clad monks, bishops and Orthodox priests attended the service, which was carried live by state television and private TV networks.

Previously, the deadliest attack against Egypt’s Christians was a New Year’s Day bombing in 2011 in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, for centuries the seat of the Orthodox Coptic church. At least 21 were killed in that attack.

A state funeral was due later Monday at a parade ground also in Nasr City, with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in attendance. El-Sissi has declared a three-day state of mourning following the attack.

Egypt has seen a wave of attacks by ISIS terrorist groups since 2013, when the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi, a freely elected leader and a senior Muslim Brotherhood official. Many of his supporters blamed Christians for supporting his ouster, and scores of churches and other Christian-owned properties in southern Egypt were ransacked that year.

Since 2013, authorities have waged a sweeping crackdown, outlawing the Muslim Brotherhood, jailing thousands of mostly Islamist dissidents and killing hundreds in street clashes.

Egypt’s Christians have long complained of discrimination, saying they are denied top jobs in many fields, including academia and security forces.

The church and many Christians have rallied behind el-Sissi, although there have been growing voices of dissent in the community. They say little has changed under his rule, with authorities failing to halt attacks on their churches and property.