An explosion that occurred this morning in the church of Mar-Girgis (St George) in the Delta town of Tanta claimed 15 lives and injured 45 Copts, according to figures by the Health Ministry. It is expected that more lives would be lost since some of the injured are in critical condition.
The reason for the explosion is not yet known, but eyewitnesses claim it came from a bomb. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail is following the matter closely.
An explosion by a suicide bomber in al-Boutrossiya church in Cairo had on 11 December 2016 claimed 29 lives.