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World / Middle East

IS claims attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt

Published: 28 May 2017 - 10:44 am | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 09:02 pm
Wounded people of St. Samuel’s Monastery attack are taken to the Nasser Institute For Research and Treatment, after the attackers opened fire on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in Egypt’s southern Minya province, in Cairo, Egypt on May 26, 2017.

Wounded people of St. Samuel’s Monastery attack are taken to the Nasser Institute For Research and Treatment, after the attackers opened fire on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in Egypt’s southern Minya province, in Cairo, Egypt on May 26, 2017.

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CAIRO: The IS terrorist group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a deadly attack that killed at least 29 Coptic Christians in southern Egypt, according to the group's Amaq news agency.

Gunmen in three pick-up trucks opened fire on a bus carrying a group of Coptic Christians to the Saint Samuel Monastery in Minya province, south of Cairo, on Friday before fleeing.

The interior ministry said 29 people were killed and scores injured in the attack.

Following the attack, Egyptian jets carried out airstrikes against what the authorities said "militant training camps" in neighboring Libya. 

The airstrikes continued on Saturday, the Egyptian state television reported. 

Friday's attack came two days after the U.S. embassy in Cairo had warned its citizens in Egypt of possible attacks.

In April, Egyptian authorities declared a three-month state of emergency following a double attack claimed by IS on two churches in northern Egypt that left 45 Coptic Christian worshipers dead and scores more injured.