[ad_1]
In the Egyptian province of Al-Minya, south of Cairo, unidentified people bombed a bus carrying Coptic pilgrims, killing several people. Police on Friday officially announced seven dead and seven wounded. A spokesman for the Coptic church had previously spoken of seven pilgrims killed, but at least 14 wounded.
According to the Cairo Interior Ministry, a group of terrorists stopped the bus to go to the St. Samuel Monastery in Al Minya and opened fire on the pilgrims. Until now, no one has committed the act. The province of Al-Minya is located about 250 kilometers south of the capital of Cairo, on the Nile. Videos from the al-Arabiya news channel showed the demolished windows of the minibus and several alleged victims still in their seats.
A year and a half ago, badbadins from the same area attacked a bus carrying Coptic pilgrims. At that time, 29 people died and 22 were injured. The Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia has claimed the act for itself. The Egyptian army then attacked targets in Libya.
A spokesperson for the European Commissioner for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, expressed dismay at the recent incident. The attack strongly recalled the security problems in Egypt.
The attack took place one day before the opening of an international youth forum in the Sinai Peninsula in northern Egypt.
Since the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Mursi, the security situation in Egypt is fragile. Again and again there are attacks. Security forces or Copts are often the target. According to estimates, about 10% of the estimated 100 million Egyptians are Christians.
(APA / dpa / Reuters)
Source link
