New Years Eve Bombing of Coptic Church in Egypt Leaves 21 Dead

By Randy Sly
1/3/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The injured toll stands a 79 in the possible suicide bombing

The attack came following repeated threats from al-Qaida militants in Iraq that they intended to attack Egypt's Christians. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Ministry of Information stated that an unnamed official had stated that this may have been the work of a suicide bomber carried out by foreign terrorists.

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Worshippers leaving a Coptic Christian Church in Alexandria, Egypt after a New Years Eve Mass became the victims of a car bomb that detonated in front of the building. The explosion, during the first hour of the New Year, left 21 dead, 79 injured and questions about possible involvement of al-Qaida.

All but eight of the injured and all the fatalities were Christians from Saints Church, located on the eastern side of the coastal city.

The state-run newspaper Al Ahram reported that an eyewitness stated "It was about 15 minutes after midnight when we heard the sound of the explosion. We came out of the church to find two cars on fire."

Sami Saad, who was inside the church at the time of the explosion, went on to say, "Everyone was frightened and people were screaming after we saw scattered parts of the dead bodies mixing with blood to cover the ground."

The pastor of the church, Fr. Mena Adel told the Malta Times, "I was inside the church and heard a huge explosion. People's bodies were in flames."

The attack came following repeated threats from al-Qaida militants in Iraq that they intended to attack Egypt's Christians. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Ministry of Information stated that an unnamed official had stated that this may have been the work of a suicide bomber carried out by foreign terrorists.

An attack by al-Qaida in Egypt would prove awkward to President Hosni Mubarak had explicitly stated on many occasions that the terrorist network did not have a significant presence in the country.

The bombing brought about a strong reaction from Christians who already feel they are being discriminated against by the Muslim majority and ignored by the government. Angry Copts clashed with police, hurling rocks and storming a mosque across the street where they threw some books into the street. Muslims retaliated by throwing stones and bottles at the Copts.

On Saturday afternoon, crowds of Christians demonstrated in the streets outside the church and a neighboring hospital, hurling stones at riot police, who opened fire with rubber bullets and tear gas. According Al Ahram, an eyewitness told them that a priest from the church calmed the angry crowd and urged them to stay inside the church.

Pope Benedict denounced the violence against Christians during his New Year's Day homily on Saturday, saying, "Humanity ... cannot be allowed to become accustomed to discrimination, injustices and religious intolerance, which today strike Christians in a particular way."

In addressing Christians who live in areas where violence has erupted, the Pope stated, "Once again, I make a pressing appeal not to give in to discouragement and resignation."

President Mubarak condemned the attack according to a report from the official MENA news agency. He described this as a "criminal terrorist act" and also called on the Christians and Muslims "to close ranks and confront the forces of terrorism and those who want to undermine the security, stability and unity" of the country.

Islamic extremists who levied the threats, state that attacks will be carried out on behalf of two Egyptian Coptic women who reportedly converted to Islam in order to divorce their husbands. The women are allegedly being held by Coptic officials against their will. They state that attacks will continue until the women are released. The church has strenuously denied the accusation.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Coptic, church, Coptic Church, bomb, attack, muslim, Egypt

NEWSLETTERS »

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 10 of 16 Comments

DJ
2 years ago
Chris,

Your links prove that some Muslims are good people. Nevertheless, there are systematic trends in modern Islamic ideology, and in Islam-dominated governments--note Jorge's comments on the change in security forces during the bombing--which should not be ignored or glossed over, if you have concern for innocent human life.

The actions and statements of Muslims on the scene of the crime (including "the rest is coming"), and the actions of Muslims acting on behalf of Egyptian authorities, suggest that this event is intended as a run-up to ethnic cleansing. The fact that Mein Kampf is a best-seller in much of the Islamic world--including Egypt--should make this evidence even more worrisome.

While it is good that some Muslims have chosen to act as human shields, this does not justify glossing over the fact that large numbers at the scene cheered the bombing, and the fact that there is evidence to suggest temporal authorities involved in the bombing. These are serious issues. While taking note of instances of humanity among those of other religions--such as those Muslims who have chosen to act as human shields--is important, it should not be done to distract or subtract from events which constitute possible movements toward ethnic cleansing. This is especially the case as other locales in the region have recently experienced instances of ethnically-targeted mass-killings, for example in Sudan and in Iraq.

Your framing of the event by using the phrase "if anyone is interested" is dismissive, and suggests you believe that Christians concerned about this bombing are somehow biased against Muslims. Sadly, when large groups of people cheer after a bombing of a minority religious group, and when assigned security forces go missing while a bombing but appear to round up mere stone-throwers just afterward, there is reason beyond bias to consider the possibility that the incident may be more than a one-off.

Evidence that a mass-murder has systematic underpinnings (here, in terms of popular opinion, ideology, and temporal authority), shouldn't be ignored merely because the victims are Christians. Christians matter as much as anyone else. Recall that the term 'genocide' was coined over the ethnic cleansing of Armenian Christians; it isn't as though Christians are immune from this sort of treatment.

As a final point, the fact that there were some good people among the Germans in the run-up to the Holocaust, and the fact that there were holdouts against Naziism during the Holocaust who were willing to protect minority members, does not negate the fact that the majority of the populace was complicit with genocide. The fact that a minority of Muslims is willing to take a stand for human rights is a good thing--and it is a good thing to notice, so long as intent of that focus isn't to belittle genuine risks to innocent human life--but it alone does not demonstrate that the majority will do any more than sit by while ideologues and fanatics--some with temporal power--work for mass murder.

The future of course is not written, and of course I hope the situation does not come to this point in Egypt. However, implicitly belittling the concerns of a minority group targeted for a mass killing, when they have evidence of possibly systematic factors behind that mass killing, is not the way to start on a path of ensuring the best possible future.
Chris
2 years ago
If anyone is interested, Egyptian Muslims have responded to the attack by attending Coptic mass to act as "human shields" against religious violence.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/3365.aspx

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/01/egypt-copts-and-muslims-come-together-for-once-during-orthodox-christmas.html
Jorge
2 years ago
God bless you Cathy! we should all boycot all and any country that abuses, mistreats, discriminates and kills fellow christians, whoever they are and wherever they live!muslim countries are th WORST countries in terms of killing, abusing and destroying christians..they should take back a little of their own medicine for a change. Enough with pro-islamic curruption and suicidal political correctness!
Cathy
2 years ago
Thank you Holy Father for standing up for the Coptic Christians, and all of the Christians of the world. I am a Lutheran, and I must say I was so very proud of you, and the stand you are taking. I pray for all Christians, and especially for those who are being persecuted, and slain. I have asked my representative to stop foriegn aid to Egypt, and any country that persecutes/kills Christians. It is time all of us stand up for what we believe in, and take action to end the brutality. God bless you and keep you.
Bulbajer
2 years ago
R.I.P.
Jorge
2 years ago
Here is what muslim "moderates" are doing in egypt to christians:Egyptian security guards withdrew an hour before jihad bombing at church-Support for jihad in high places. "Egyptian Security Guards Withdrew One Hour Before Church Blast, Say Eyewitnesses
The car explosion that went off in front of Saints Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria killed 21 and injured 96 parishioners who were attending a New Year's Eve Mass. According to church officials and eyewitnesses, there are many more victims that are still unidentified and whose body parts were strewn all over the street outside the church. The body parts were covered with newspapers until they were brought inside the church after some Muslims started stepping on them and chanting Jihadi chants (video showing dead bodies and limbs covered with newspapers in the street).
According to eyewitnesses, a green Skoda car pull up outside the church shortly after midnight. Two men got out , one of them talked shortly on his mobile phone, and the explosion occurred almost immediately after they left the scene. On the back of the Skoda was a sticker with the words "the rest is coming" (video of car explosion and Muslims shouting "Allah Akbar").After the blast, traumatized Copts were angered by chants of "Allah Akbar" from Muslims and began hurling stones at the mosque. Immediately security forces which were absent during the car blast and the ensuing events, appeared and starting shooting tear gas at the Copts, and they in turn hurled stones at them, said an eyewitness. Fifteen Copts were rounded up from their homes by the authorities....
Eyewitnesses confirmed that security forces guarding the church withdrew nearly one hour before the blast, leaving only four policemen and an officer to guard such a big church and nearly 2000 people attending the midnight mass. "Normally they would have waited until the mass was over," said el-Gezeiry. He also commented on the Muslim's schadenfreude at the massacre at the church, who were heard chanting "Allah Akbar."...

It was reported that the bomb, locally made, had 100KG of explosives in addition to having nails, glass and iron balls inside. The strength of it not only caused glass panes to be shattered in all the neighborhood, but also made body parts fly into the building's fourth floor, and to the mosque facing the church.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but officials hastily blamed either Al-Qaida or the Israeli Mousad of being behind the blast, but none of them mentioned the Egyptian state security which is viewed by Copts as the real culprit.

To clear his security forces of negligence, the Minister of Interior said that the blast was an "individual" case, caused by a single suicide terrorist detonating his vest, and has nothing to do with an exploding car. The governor of Alexandria claimed the attack as being aimed at Muslims and Christians alike.

And these false "moderates" DARE to intimidate our pope "not to interfere in their internal issues"..you see , to islam, only muslims can give orders, requests or interfere with/to other muslims, since all non-muslims-Pope benedict XVI- included, are DHIMMIES. It is good to see our Pope standing for ALL christians at ALL times and refuse to submit to islam or to give in to jihadist "moderate" blackmail!
Manuel Pazmino
2 years ago
Thank you for your report, we need to pray with all our hearts, and have compassion for the whole world!!
Jorge
2 years ago
Nothing will change in what concerns the deliberate persecution and genocide perpetrated by ALL muslims against christians. Don't be fooled! the "solidarity" words coming from the "moderate" muslims mean nothing, since muslims are taught to LIE-use taqiyya on all non-christians in all circumstances.if you sum up the dots-the words and the practice, it just never matches..christians keep dwindling..and dwindling..and dwindling, victim of deliberate abuse, opression uder the barbaric sharia law, ..they cannot spread their religion, cannot built churches, or even renovate old ones( the idea behind this is to FORCE them to convert to islam or leave the country), cannot hold high offices positions in government, state, army..and on..and on...the nice words of confort and unity of "moderate" muslims, don't match their practice of feliberate persecutu«ion, abuse and destruction of allnon-muslims. THAT is NOT a "moderate" policy, but it matches what the islamist jihadists are doing-butchering non-muslims (to convert them to islam , or force them to leave their countries)-, on a different level!
MrCee2
2 years ago
Today in Stars & Stripes there was an article referencing this atrocity stating that Egyptian authorities think this attack came from a local group rather than from Al-Queda or some foreign influence. This strikes a major flaw and misconception in the recent responses to Religious themed violence, specifically directed towards Christians. First I think that Egypt's statement was a total sham. Pres. Hosni Mubarak has long held the position of downplaying all acts of violence and terrorism within Egypt as Egypt's problem. He has frequently refuted international attention to social injustices in his own country. I firmly believe that he directed this statement to be put out, so it would not show his past positions to be wrong. His pride is holding him back from admitting it might be an outside influence. Second until this is brought up as an international issue, the same way terrorism is an international issue we will continue to see violence like this and Christians will continue to mourn their lost brothers and sisters. So far the only public statements I have hears/seen/read even remotely close to putting the situation this was has been that of The Holy Father. There have been press releases from the White House on this violence to be sure. But no one seems to be taking this seriously. I can only pray that someone in a position of influence will wake up to this fact. Our Lord and Father will shepherd and protect us in fulfillment of his will but I weep for our flock, when the wolves strike yet one more blow.
Drew
Theresa
2 years ago
While we mourn the death of our Christian brethern, we should bear in mind that they are "winning" God's mercy on us--in their union with Christ in His suffering.... "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians." May God turn us back to Him....They are in peace in the Kingdom of Heaven!

Prev12 Next

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment