News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

Egypt-flag-main_article_image.png
World News

Islamic militants attack church, killing seven

by Eno Adeogun

The terrorists drove into the city centre of el-Arish in the morning and split into two groups, throwing grenades and exchanging gunfire with guards at an unused Coptic church, to distract officials from their fellow members robbing a bank across the street.

Services at the Church of Saint George, had been suspended months ago, following recent deadly assaults on Christians in Sinai, security and military officials said.

Officials have reported that about $1 million was stolen.

The assault follows a wave of attacks in recent months on Egypt's Christian minority - which account for ten per cent of the country's population.

The Islamic State group attacked military checkpoints in a nearby town, killing nine soldiers on Sunday and Fr Samaan Shehata died in hospital on Friday after being attacked with a cleaver in a poor district of Cairo.

Bishop Angaelos

Speaking at the time, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK Bishop Angaelos, told Premier that life has become so dangerous for priests in the country that some have told their family not to walk with them as they don't want them to become targets as well.

He also expressed concern about how the attacks on Christians are being treated by officials and said: "As we've seen in Europe and around the world, there are initial attacks and then there are lots of copy-cats. When crimes go unchallenged, unprosecuted, people feel they can replicate them.

"My concern is that if this isn't taken seriously- and the track-record regrettably is not very good of taking these attacks seriously in terms of investigations, prosecutions and convictions. If it's not taken seriously, I'm concerned it will almost be a greenlight and a template to be now followed.

"We have thousands of priests in Egypt and they go about their business, they walk about in the street, they're very imbedded in the community. They are very visible and this just means they are infinitely more vulnerable and easily targeted."

YouTube/CTVcopticTV

CCTV footage has since emerged that appears to capture the moment Fr Shehata was stabbed in the back several times.

He had been collecting humanitarian aid for his parish in Beni Suef on 12th October when a man started chasing him with a large knife.
 
His attacker, who fled the scene before being arrested later, was known to police as an "extremist" with a previous criminal record, according to the International Business Times.

The latest church attack left three civilians, three guards and one soldier dead and wounded another 15 people, including women and children, officials have said.

The two groups of attackers were caught on camera fleeing the site of the clashes in a stolen pickup and three motorcycles, AP reports.

A spate of suicide bombings claimed by the extremist Islamic State group has killed more than 100 people since December last year.

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate