Helwan church attacker detained 15 days, pending investigation

CAIRO – 21 January 2018: Egypt's High State Security Prosecution ordered the detention of defendant Ibrahim Ismail Mostafa for 15 days pending investigation into the attack carried out on Mar Mina Church and an electrical appliances shop in Helwan district.

Mostafa, 34, was arrested over charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of an automatic firearm and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with the aim to attack worship places and disturb public peace and order.

During investigations, Mostafa confessed that he joined a terrorist cell in 2015 and took part in a number of terror acts. He also admitted that he was planning to form a terrorist cell, so he started to spread his extremist ideology among people to recruit them in his group.

The church attack took place on December 29 when two armed men used firearms to target dozens of Christian worshippers attending a religious service, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior.

The statement added that the attackers opened fire at a household appliances shop, then headed to the church, where they attempted to trespass the church's security.

The security forces were able to capture one of the attackers after shooting him and managed to defuse an explosive belt that was fastened around the militant's chest, while the other one fled the scene, the ministry said.