Coptic Churches Bombed In Egypt On Palm Sunday

Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Egyptians held prayers for 25 Christians killed the day before at a church next to the city’s main Coptic cathedral in what was one of the deadliest attacks on the religious minority in recent memory. The bomb went off while worshippers were attending Sunday Mass at a chapel adjacent to St. Mark’s Cathedral. The coffins of the 25 have been laid in front of the altar, with the names of each victim plastered on the side facing the congregation.
Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Egyptians held prayers for 25 Christians killed the day before at a church next to the city's main Coptic cathedral in what was one of the deadliest attacks on the religious minority in recent memory. The bomb went off while worshippers were attending Sunday Mass at a chapel adjacent to St. Mark's Cathedral. The coffins of the 25 have been laid in front of the altar, with the names of each victim plastered on the side facing the congregation. Nariman El-Mofty / AP Photo
Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Egyptians held prayers for 25 Christians killed the day before at a church next to the city’s main Coptic cathedral in what was one of the deadliest attacks on the religious minority in recent memory. The bomb went off while worshippers were attending Sunday Mass at a chapel adjacent to St. Mark’s Cathedral. The coffins of the 25 have been laid in front of the altar, with the names of each victim plastered on the side facing the congregation.
Coffins are laid out during a funeral service for victims of a Sunday cathedral bombing, at the Virgin Mary Church, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Egyptians held prayers for 25 Christians killed the day before at a church next to the city's main Coptic cathedral in what was one of the deadliest attacks on the religious minority in recent memory. The bomb went off while worshippers were attending Sunday Mass at a chapel adjacent to St. Mark's Cathedral. The coffins of the 25 have been laid in front of the altar, with the names of each victim plastered on the side facing the congregation. Nariman El-Mofty / AP Photo

Coptic Churches Bombed In Egypt On Palm Sunday

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Terrorists targeted two Coptic churches in Egypt during Palm Sunday services this past weekend. At least 44 people were killed and dozens more were injured in bombings in Tanta and Alexandria.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility and the Egyptian government has declared a three-month State-of-Emergency. The attacks come almost four months after a suicide bombing attack during Mass at St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in December. 

We talk about the latest attacks on Egypt’s Coptic community with Atef MacKar, a Chicago-area physician and president of Chicago Copts.