BBC News

In pictures: Bloody Palm Sunday for Egypt's Coptic Christians

Published
image copyrightEPA
image captionThe first blast hit St George's Coptic church in the northern city of Tanta. Witnesses said the explosion was next to the church's altar.
image copyrightEPA
image captionRelatives of the victims gathered in front of the church after the explosion.
image copyrightEPA
image captionCopts, who make up about 10% of Egypt's population, have been frequently targeted in recent years.
image copyrightEPA
image captionThey are one of the most ancient Christian communities, and have long felt vulnerable and marginalised.
image copyrightEPA
image captionHours later, a suicide bomber detonated his device outside Saint Mark's Coptic church in Alexandria, also in northern Egypt.
image copyrightEPA
image captionThe bomber was prevented from entering the church by police officers, authorities said.
image copyrightEPA
image captionSo-called Islamic State (IS) said it was behind the attacks, which happened just weeks before a planned visit to Egypt by Pope Francis.

Related Topics

More on this story