Politics
08:51, 30-Dec-2017
ISIL claims responsibility for Egypt church shooting
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ISIL has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Coptic Christian church in Cairo that left at least nine people dead.
The announcement, carried by the group’s Aamaq news agency, said Friday’s attack was carried out by a “security detail” and that one of its men was “martyred” in the incident.
A gunman on a motorcycle opened fire outside the church and at a nearby store, sparking a shootout that killed at least nine people, including eight Coptic Christians, in the latest attack targeting the country’s embattled Christian minority.
The gunman was also killed, along with at least one police officer, officials said.
The attack came amid tightened security around churches and Christian facilities ahead of the Coptic Orthodox Christian celebrations of Christmas on January 7.
Police have been stationed outside churches and in nearby streets across Cairo.
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has personally chaired meetings with his top security chiefs in recent days to discuss security during New Year’s Eve and the Orthodox Christmas.
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Source(s): AP