Middle East Egypt: Egypt's shaken Copts mark Good Friday after double bombing

The head of the Coptic Christian Church has led a Good Friday service in the cathedral in Cairo in the aftermath of last Sunday's deadly bomb attacks.

Pope Tawadros II had been in one of the two churches targeted on Palm Sunday when 45 people were killed in attacks claimed by Daesh. Derelicts

Security has been tightened at churches across Egypt and Easter celebrations have been scaled back.
Both suicide bombers were Egyptians, the government said.

A three-month state of emergency was imposed following the bombings in Alexandria and the Nile Delta city of Tanta.

The attacks on Christians, who make up about 10% of Egypt's population, raised security fears ahead of a visit to Cairo by Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, scheduled for 28 and 29 April.

Read more: Egypt's shaken Copts mark Good Friday after double bombing - BBC News

Egypt - Terrorism Dozens Killed In Pair Of Bombings In Coptic Christian Churches In Egypt - by Bel Trew

At least 44 people were killed and more than 100 injured after suspected suicide bombings in two different Egyptian cities at Coptic Christian churches Sunday.

The interior ministry said one of the explosions was a bombing in Mar Gerges church in Tanta, a city in the north of Egypt in the Nile Delta, located between Cairo and Alexandria. The church was full at the time with worshippers observing Coptic Christian Palm Sunday.

Health ministry spokesman Khaled Mujahed told Egyptian state television that at least 27 people were killed and 78 injured.

Just hours later and about 80 miles away in Alexandria, a second explosion outside the Mar Markas church killed 16 people and injured 41 others, Mujahed confirmed to state television.
NPR's Jane Arraf adds that the Coptic Pope was in the building, but unharmed by the attack.

Read more: Dozens Killed In Pair Of Bombings In Coptic Christian Churches In Egypt : The Two-Way : NPR