9 killed in latest attack targeting Egypt’s Christians

CAIRO — Gunmen killed at least nine people in an attack on a Coptic Christian church south of Cairo on Friday, authorities said.

Image: Mar Mina Church Image: Mar Mina Church

The scene outside the church after Friday’s deadly attack. Amr Abdallah Dalsh / Reuters

Two attackers opened fire at the entrance to the church of Mar Mina in Helwan district, which was being guarded by police in the run-up to Orthodox Christmas celebrations next week, security sources told Reuters.

One attacker was shot dead by security forces, the state-run news agency MENA reported. State television said the second had been captured.

The Associated Press quoted security officials as saying two police officers were among the dead.

Islamist militants have claimed several attacks on Egypt’s large Christian minority in recent years, including two bomb attacks on Palm Sunday in April and a blast at Cairo’s largest Coptic cathedral last December that killed 28 people.

The Health Ministry said that nine people had been killed on Friday in addition to the gunman, and five others wounded.

Local media reported the dead attacker had been wearing an explosive belt, and that two other bombs had been defused near the church.

Police have stepped up security measures around churches ahead of the Coptic Christmas celebrations on Jan. 7, deploying officers outside Christian places of worship and setting up metal detectors at some of the bigger churches.