Palm Sunday celebrations thwarted by deadly blasts

CAIRO- 9 April 2017: A bomb blast in Mar Girgis Church in Tanta killed 30 people and injured 71, while an explosion near Saint Mark’s Church in Alexandria killed six and injured 33 .

Security presence has been tightened around the country’s churches to secure the celebrations.

Christians celebrate by holding masses at churches across the country. In Port Said, thousands of worshippers went to the governorate’s churches, holding palms fronds as a celebration ritual, Egypt Today reported.

Offering palm fronds is considered a sign of love and peace, and Christians are keen on buying them every year in different forms.

Palm Sunday commemorates the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, where he was greeted by cheering crowds bearing palm fronds. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians.

This is the second deadly attack on Christians in a short period after a bombing at a Cairo church in December last year left 28 dead and more than 40 wounded.