Egyptian Christians recall horror of Islamist bombing of church

TANTA, Egypt — Coptic Christian worshippers in Egypt spoke of horrific scenes on Sunday after a bomb ripped through their church during a service, mangling bodies and destroying pews.

“There was a violent explosion near the altar,” Edmon Edward told AFP.

“Suddenly everything became black, people flew over each other,” he said.

He had been attending Palm Sunday mass at the Mar Girgis church in Tanta with his brother Emil, who stood with a white bandage wrapped around his head, when the attack claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) group happened.

The explosion killed at least 27 people, and was followed hours later by a second bombing at a church in Alexandria, which killed 17.

At the church in Tanta, icons of Christ and St George looked down on a tangle of destroyed pews and congealing blood on the floor tiles.

“I head the blast, and then I saw a woman run barefoot with her face oozing blood,” said a taxi driver who asked not to be identified.

In hospital, a wounded witness told state television: “I just felt fire grabbing my face. I pushed my brother who was sitting next to me and then I heard people saying: ‘explosion’.”

Nabil Nader, 65, who lives opposite the church, spoke of the attack’s aftermath and said the first three rows of pews in the church were destroyed.

“I heard the blast and came running. I found people torn up… some people, only half of their bodies remained,” he said.

“The father of a friend of my son was in the front row,” he said, his voice breaking with anguish. “We found only his shoe.”

Nearby, a man held up a burned prayer book and a traditional braided palm-leaf crucifix, stained with blood.

“They came to pray and they died,” he said.

“The victims were destroyed,” said Mohammed, a nursing student helping at the hospital were the victims of the attack were taken.

“Some are broken up inside. Some are completely burned,” he said.

‘Oh Lord, have mercy’
Police sirens wailed incessantly around the city as ambulances ferried victims to hospital.

Security forces cordoned off the church, but residents who gathered nearby were unable to hide their anger.

Despite the presence of metal detectors, the bomber was apparently able to enter the building without any hindrance.

“How was the bomb able to enter, while police” were outside the church, asked Nagat Assaad, holding back tears.

“What are the detectors for? We don’t want their protection.”

There were similar scenes in second city Alexandria after the attack there.

Several hours after the attack, a Coptic woman expressed her anger at police blocking access to the church.

“What’s the use of closing the street now? You should have done it before the explosion!” she said.

Dozens of Copts gathered near the scene, brandishing wooden crosses and chanting “Oh Lord, have mercy”.

Shards of glass littered the street and pavement outside the door where the suicide bomber activated his explosive belt.

Hussein, a salesman in a shop opposite the church who witnessed the Alexandria blast, said he was “blown over by the shockwave” and fell to the ground.

Egypt’s Copts, who have suffered repeated deadly jihadist attacks, say they feel abandoned and discriminated against by the authorities in the predominantly Muslim country.

But despite their fears, the Christians of Tanta said they are determined to defend their faith.

“We’re Christian and we will stay Christian,” one woman said in a defiant tone. CBB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Google Doode for Howard Carter

Google always celebrates holidays and special events in a very classy imaginary way that usually go along with major holidays or World events. Doodle is very informative and many people follow it regularly so as part of Google’s tradition, Today, Google celebrates the 138th birthday Howard Carter with it's Google Logo showing Howard Carter standing while looking at objects such as mummies, boxes, jars, and old ceramics.

Howard Carter is an English archaeologist and Egyptologist, who was born in London, England, the son of Samuel Carter, a Notable Artist.

Egyptian health ministry: 74 dead, hundreds injured in soccer riots

Cairo (CNN) -- Political tensions flared Wednesday after more than 70 people were killed when fans rushed the field and rioted at a soccer game in Egypt.

It was unclear whether intense sports rivalries or political strife caused the clashes in the northeastern city of Port Said.

Hours after the fighting, protesters in Cairo chanted, "Down with military rule." And the secretary-general of the Muslim Brotherhood party blamed Egypt's military for the deaths.

Egypt's interior ministry blamed fans for provoking police.

A committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the fighting, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said in a statement early Thursday.

The clashes left at least 74 dead, Egypt's health ministry said in a statement. At least 1,000 people were injured, 150 of them critically, ministry spokesman Dr. Hisham Shiha said. Most of the injured had concussions and deep cuts, he said.


The fighting occurred in a stadium in Port Said after the home Al-Masry team beat Cairo's Al-Ahly team 3-1.

Fans from both sides bashed each other with rocks and chairs, said Mohamed Sultan, head of the ambulance association in Port Said.

Many of those who died fell from bleachers inside the stadium, according to Ahmed Saeed, an official from the Port Said governor's office.

Others suffocated, said Al-Ahly fan Amr Khamis, who returned to Cairo early Thursday with his head bandaged after an Al-Masry fan beat him with a wooden stick.

"The police opened the gates separating us from the Masry fans and their hooligans attack us with everything: rocks, glass bottles, knives, swords. Some had guns. ... How did the police allow them with these weapons into the bleachers?" he said.


Authorities contributed to escalating violence, said Mamdouh Eid, the executive manager of the Al-Ahly fans committee.

"The police stood there watching, and the ambulances arrived late. I carried several dead fans in my arms," he said.

Tension was building throughout the game, Eid said, as Port Said fans threw bottles and rocks at players.

"There were organized groups in the crowds that purposely provoked the police all through the match and escalated the violence and stormed onto the field after the final whistle," said Gen. Marwan Mustapha of Egypt's interior ministry. "Our policemen tried to contain them, but not engage."

At least 47 people were arrested after the clashes, he said.

The interior ministry and the military were not responsible for what happened, Gen. Ismail Osman, a member of Egypt's military council, told Mehwar TV.

"Security is lacking now more than ever before. The government must be more stringent," he said.

Source: CNN