Swiss condemn attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt

The first explosion took place in St George church in the city of Tanta, 100km from Cairo Keystone

The Swiss foreign ministry has condemned the bomb attacks carried out on two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday. 

On Sunday morning, a bomb planted in the pews rocked St George church in Tanta, followed by another one a few hours later detonated by a suicide bomber in Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria, the historic seat of the Coptic Pope. While the Coptic Pope Tawadros escaped unharmed, over 40 people lost their lives and over a hundred were injured in the two attacks claimed by Islamic State. 

“The foreign ministry strongly condemns the bloody attacks carried out during the Palm Sunday festivities that caused great suffering among the faithful,” said a statement from the ministry. 

Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt later this month but it is unclear if the visit will take place. 

“The attack…will only harden the determination (of the Egyptian people) to move forward on their trajectory to realise security, stability and comprehensive development,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a statement.