Egypt: Attack in Coptic Church kills at least 11, ISIS claims responsibility
Cairo, Dec 30 (IBNS): At least 11 people were killed in a recent attack orchestrated by the Islamic State in Egypt's capital city Cairo.
The incident, which took place on Friday, targeted Coptic Christians.
At least nine people, including a policeman, were killed as a gunman opened fire inside the church in Helwan, a suburb in southern Cairo, Reuters news agency reported.
Prior to that, the gunman shot two people at a Christian owned shop, killing both.
The gunman was later neutralised by security forces and has been taken into custody.
The deceased, though not identified, were said to be in between ages 43 to 90.
The ISIS claimed the attack through its mouthpiece Amaq.
Who are the Copts?
- Copts make up to 10 percent of Egypt's population and is the largest Christian community in the Middle East.
- The Copts follow the teaching of Apostle Mark, who introduced Christianity to Egypt, according to St. Takla Church in Alexandria, the capital of Coptic Christianity.
- According to the World Council of Churches, the Coptic language descends from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
- Though there were hundreds of Coptic monasteries in ancient Egypt, only 20-odd remains active today.
- The Church is headed by the Pope of Alexandria, who is based in the Egyptian capital Cairo.
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