There was no immediate claim of responsibility but it followed a series of church bombings claimed by Islamic State. About 70 have been killed in bomb attacks on churches in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta since December. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called a meeting of security officials. The Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Allam, condemned the perpetrators as traitors. Coptic Christians, whose church dates back nearly 2 000 years, make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population. They are supporters of the President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has vowed to crush Islamist extremism and protect Christians. Arab and western countries condemned on Friday the attack. German Foreign Ministry Spokesman Martin Schaefer told to media that Germany “condemns in the strongest possible terms these kinds of attacks on believers.” Russia denounced the attack, stressing its rejection and condemnation of all acts of terrorism.
