State on high alert following Minya attack

CAIRO – 26 May 2017: An armed group opened fire at a bus carrying more than 50 Christians on Friday in Minya, Upper Egypt, killing 28 and injuring at least 25, including children.

The Christians were headed to the Saint Samuel Monastery, located outside Minya city, when three pickup trucks obstructed the bus’ route and armed men started shooting at the bus before fleeing the scene.

State television footage showed the bus grazed with bullets, surrounded by bodies covered in black plastic sheets.

According to Essam el-Bedawi, governor of Minya, the gunmen used automatic weapons.

Following the attack, a state of alert was triggered by state authorities; President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi immediately held a security meeting to address the attack and issue the necessary measures.

Security forces launched a hunt to apprehend the attackers; dozens of security checkpoints and patrols were set up on the desert road.

Minister of Health Ahmed Emad, submitted a preliminary report to Prime Minister Sherif Ismail regarding the number of casualties and injuries following the attack.

Hospitals and health directorates in Fayoum, Beni Suef and Minya have raised their emergency state as well, in case a casualty or an injury is received.

Ismail further directed to provide all the necessary medical care to the injured, while intensifying efforts to pin down the attackers.

For its part, the Supreme Media Regulatory Council condemned the attack and called upon media outlets to carefully deal with the situation.

Dar al-Ifta, Egypt's official religious institution tasked with issuing fatwas, canceled the ceremony marking the holy month of Ramadan’s first day as it offered its condolences to the victims’ families.

Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb also condemned the attack and urged Egyptians to stay united in the face of terrorism. He also deemed the attack to be targeting the state’s stability.

In April 2017, at least 45 people were killed, while more than 100 were wounded, in two separate suicide bomb attacks on churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria during Palm Sunday ceremonies.

The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (IS). Following the Palm Sunday bombings, a nationwide three-month state of emergency was declared by President Sisi.