In video made available by Egyptian Interior Ministry, a suicide bomber, bottom of screen, tries to walk into St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral, but security guards force him to pass through the metal detector, left, then he detonated a bomb, in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday April 9, 2017. Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in different cities in northern Egypt as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing dozens of people and wounding many more in an assault claimed by the Islamic State group.
In video made available by Egyptian Interior Ministry, a man sits at right as a suicide bomber detonates at the front gates into St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday April 9, 2017. The bomber was stopped by security at the gate and forced to go through a metal detector before detonating at the gates. Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in different cities in northern Egypt as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing dozens of people and wounding many more in an assault claimed by the Islamic State group.
In video made available by Egyptian Interior Ministry, a man sitting at right is engulfed by the blast as a suicide bomber detonates at the front gates into St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday April 9, 2017. The bomber was stopped by security at the gate and forced to go through a metal detector before detonating outside the gates. Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in different cities in northern Egypt as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing dozens of people and wounding many more in an assault claimed by the Islamic State group.
Stringer, AFP/Getty ImagesGraphic content / Egyptians load a body onto an ambulance near a church in Alexandria after a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9, 2017. The Interior ministry said Coptic Pope Tawadros II was inside the church leading a Palm Sunday service when the suicide bomber was stopped by police outside and blew himself up. A church official said Tawadros had already left the church when the bombing took place.
Khaled Desouki, AFP/Getty ImagesA general view shows people gathering outside the Mar Girgis Coptic Church in the Nile Delta City of Tanta, 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Cairo, after a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9, 2017.
Stringer, AFP/Getty ImagesGraphic content / A general view shows forensics collecting evidence at the site of a bomb blast which struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday at the Mar Girgis Coptic Church in the Nile Delta City of Tanta, 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Cairo, on April 9, 2017.
Stringer, AFP/Getty ImagesGraphic content / An Egyptian uses his cell phone to take pictures of the destruction, debris, and bloodstains on the walls and icon murals inside the Mar Girgis Coptic Orthodox Church in the Nile Delta City of Tanta, 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Cairo, at which a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to attend the Palm Sunday mass, on April 9, 2017.
Stringer, AFP/Getty ImagesGraphic content / An Egyptian woman stands amidst the destruction and debris inside the Mar Girgis Coptic Orthodox Church in the Nile Delta City of Tanta, 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Cairo, at which a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to attend the Palm Sunday mass, on April 9, 2017.
Nariman El-Mofty, The Associated PressBlood stains pews inside the St. George Church after a suicide bombing, in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, Egypt, Sunday, April 9, 2017. Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in the northern Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing over 40 people and wounding scores more in assaults claimed by the Islamic State group.
Stringer, AFP/Getty ImagesGraphic content / An Egyptian holds out torn a page from a prayer book showing a section of the Gospel of John in Arabic inside the Mar Girgis Coptic Orthodox Church in the Nile Delta City of Tanta, 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Cairo, at which a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to attend the Palm Sunday mass, on April 9, 2017.
Mohamed El-shahed, AFP/Getty ImagesAn Egyptian raises a cross made of palm leaves, originally intended for Palm Sunday celebrations, as he is being lifted by others gathering outside the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Alexandria after a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9, 2017. The Interior ministry said Coptic Pope Tawadros II was inside the church leading a Palm Sunday service when the suicide bomber was stopped by police outside and blew himself up. A church official said Tawadros had already left the church when the bombing took place.
Stringer, AFP/Getty ImagesEgyptians react near a church in Alexandria after a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9, 2017. The Interior ministry said Coptic Pope Tawadros II was inside the church leading a Palm Sunday service when the suicide bomber was stopped by police outside and blew himself up. A church official said Tawadros had already left the church when the bombing took place.
Nariman El-Mofty, The Associated PressEmil Edward, who was injured in a bomb attack, stands outside the Saint George church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, Egypt, Sunday, April 9, 2017. Bombs tore through two Egyptian churches in different cities as worshippers were marking Palm Sunday, killing dozens of people and wounding many more, in an assault claimed by the Islamic State group.
Stringer, AFP/Getty ImagesGraphic content / Egyptians gather around a body in a street near a church in Alexandria after a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9, 2017. The Interior ministry said Coptic Pope Tawadros II was inside the church leading a Palm Sunday service when the suicide bomber was stopped by police outside and blew himself up. A church official said Tawadros had already left the church when the bombing took place.
Mohamed El-shahed, AFP/Getty ImagesEgyptians gather by debris resulting from a blast which struck outside the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Alexandria as worshippers attended Palm Sunday mass earlier on April 9, 2017. The Interior ministry said Coptic Pope Tawadros II was inside the church leading a Palm Sunday service when the suicide bomber was stopped by police outside and blew himself up. A church official said Tawadros had already left the church when the bombing took place.
Nariman El-Mofty, The Associated PressBrothers Hany Georgie Salamah, right, who sustained first degree burns, and Ashraf Georgie Salamah, both victims of the suicide bombing attack at the St. George's Church, receive treatment at the American Hospital in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, Egypt, Sunday, April 9, 2017. Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in the northern Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing over 40 people and wounding scores more in assaults claimed by the Islamic State group.
Mohamed El-shahed, AFP/Getty ImagesAn Egyptian holds a branch braided palm leaves, originally intended for Palm Sunday celebrations, during a gathering outside the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Alexandria after a bomb blast struck outside earlier while worshippers attended Palm Sunday mass on April 9, 2017. The Interior ministry said Coptic Pope Tawadros II was inside the church leading a Palm Sunday service when the suicide bomber was stopped by police outside and blew himself up. A church official said Tawadros had already left the church when the bombing took place.
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In video made available by Egyptian Interior Ministry, a suicide bomber, bottom of screen, tries to walk into St. Mark's Coptic Cathedral, but security guards force him to pass through the metal detector, left, then he detonated a bomb, in Alexandria, Egypt, Sunday April 9, 2017. Bombs exploded at two Coptic churches in different cities in northern Egypt as worshippers were celebrating Palm Sunday, killing dozens of people and wounding many more in an assault claimed by the Islamic State group.
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By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
Suicide bombers struck hours apart at two Coptic churches in northern Egypt, killing 44 people and turning Palm Sunday services into scenes of horror and outrage at the government that led the president to call for a three-month state of emergency.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the violence, adding to fears that extremists are shifting their focus to civilians, especially Egypt’s Christian minority.
The attacks in the northern cities of Tanta and Alexandria that also left 126 people wounded came at the start of Holy Week leading up to Easter, and just weeks before Pope Francis is due to visit.
It was the single deadliest day for Christians in decades and the worst since a bombing at a Cairo church in December killed 30 people.
Late Sunday night, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called for a three-month state of emergency. According to Egypt’s constitution, parliament must vote in favor of such a declaration — a virtual certainty since it is packed with supporters of the president. It cannot exceed six months without a referendum to extend it.