Editor's note: The latest reports put the death toll of these bombings at 43 (USA Today).
Christians in Egypt request our prayers after two churches in Northern Egypt suffered bomb attacks during Palm Sunday services on 9th April.
The first bomb exploded inside Mar Girgis (St. George's) Coptic Orthodox church in Tanta, in Gharbiya governorate in the Nile Delta region. The bishopric has issued a list of 26 names of people who died in the attack. According to the Ministry of Health, 71 people were injured.
Later during the morning of 9th April, a suicide bomber was intercepted and detonated his device outside St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria. According to a statement by the Ministry of Health, six people were killed in this attack and 33 were injured. Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadrous II was presiding over the Palm Sunday celebrations in the cathedral, but he is reported to be unharmed.
Christians in Egypt ask us to pray:
a. for God's comfort for those who lost loved ones and for full recovery of the injured
b. for comfort and encouragement for the wider Christian community and for God's protection over his church in Egypt and over other targets of these kinds of attacks
c. that the perpetrators of these violent attacks and the instigators behind them will be found and brought to justice.
The above report is provided by Middle East Concern
According to CBN, Bishop Angaelos, the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, expressed his condolences in a statement.
"While it is still too early to determine responsibility, what is undeniable is the senseless and heartless brutality that can lead a person or people to indiscriminately take innocent lives, especially at the most vulnerable hour of prayer.... Today we suffer with our sisters and brothers who have experienced losses in London, in Stockholm, and as well as those who continue to suffer on a daily basis across the Middle East. We pray for them and their families as well as their suffering and struggling communities," Bishop Angaelos said.
CNN reports ISIS is taking credit for the attacks.
Heroic police save lives in second attack, according to DailyMail.com. Three officers died at St Mark's Cathedral while preventing bomber from entering church
Christian leaders respond to Palm Sunday attacks in Egypt:
As we mark Palm Sunday and the entrance of Jesus, the Prince of Peace...we weep & pray for those devastated by the church bombings in Egypt.
— Eugene Cho (@EugeneCho) April 9, 2017
Pray for Mar Girgis Church in Egypt.Bombed.36 dead."When the world hates you,remember it hated me first." Jesus Jn.15:18
— Rick Warren (@RickWarren) April 9, 2017
Islamic terrorists, all religious terrorists, R doing the work of Satan & not God. God will vindicate the senseless deaths of His children.
— Daniel Akin (@DannyAkin) April 9, 2017
This #PalmSunday two churches in Egypt were bombed by Muslims killing and wounding dozens who had come to worship. https://t.co/unFALKulHZ
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) April 9, 2017
#CopticChristians killed and injured in attacks today in Egypt as they gathered for Palm Sunday worship. Lord, have mercy.
— Nadia Bolz-Weber (@Sarcasticluther) April 9, 2017
As you are off to church for Palm Sunday, remember those who did the same in Egypt, only to be killed for their faith. #SundayReminder
— Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) April 9, 2017
Christians killed in Egypt today who were gathering to worship on Passover. It reminds me what persecution is and is not. Lord, come!
— Wendy Alsup (@WendyAlsup) April 9, 2017
Christians are being bombed during one the most important seasons of their year. Will the world care? #ReligiousPersecution https://t.co/MqGGHHnYgf
— Anthony Bradley (@drantbradley) April 9, 2017
Praying for the faith community in Egypt after this horrific terrorist bombing on Palm Sunday.
— Phillip Bethancourt (@pbethancourt) April 9, 2017
https://t.co/aCnNHCIAcj