Egyptian churches set new security measures

CAIRO — 13 April 2017: The Coptic Orthodox Church announced Thursday new security measures to be applied across all its affiliated churches, following Palm Sunday attacks that left over 45 people dead and hundreds injured in two churches in Tanta and Alexandria.

Bags will no longer be allowed inside churches and churchgoers are prohibited from being present in the churchyard. Anyone entering the church grounds must present an ID to the ecclesiastical scouts. No weapons are allowed inside churches, regardless of who is carrying the firearms and everyone will be subject to inspection. Cars are no longer allowed into church yards.

Mar Girgis church in Tanta and Alexandria’s Coptic Orthodox Church were attacked during Palm Sunday services earlier this week, leaving 45 dead and some 125 injured.