Church Bombing: Egypt Announces 3-Month State Of Emergency

[caption id="attachment_18691" align="alignnone" width="750"]President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi [/caption]

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Eqypt has announced a three-month state of emergency after two deadly bombings targeted Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which left about 48 people dead, Egypt state media reports.

At least 27 people died in a blast inside a church in the northern city of Tanta, and 78 people were injured, according to Egypt’s state-run news agency Al-Ahram. In Alexandria, 18 civilians and four police officers were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Coptic church, Al-Ahram said.

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President el-Sisi declared three days of nationwide mourning, adding that a three-month state of emergency would come into force once legal and constitutional measures have been completed.

“A series of steps will be taken, most importantly, the announcement of a state of emergency for three months after legal and constitution steps are taken,” Sisi said in a speech aired on state television after an emergency meeting of the country’s National Defense Council.

As part of the resolve, the country will also form a supreme council to counter terrorism and extremism, Sisi said.

“We have to pay attention because of Egypt and Egypt’s future. We know this is a big sacrifice but we are capable of facing it.

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“The attack will not undermine the resolve and true will of the Egyptian people to counter the forces of evil, but will only harden their determination to move forward on their trajectory to realize security, stability and comprehensive development,” the President added.

Egyptian authorities are yet to confirm the bombers, despite ISIS claiming they are Egyptian nationals.

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