President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced a state of emergency for three months in the country.
At least 45 people were killed and nearly 120 others injured in powerful blasts triggered by ISIS in two churches packed with worshippers celebrating Palm Sunday in Egypt's Tanta and Alexandria cities, the deadliest attacks on the minority Coptic Christians in recent years.
The first blast took place in the Coptic church of Mar Girgis, also known as St George, in the Nile delta city of Tanta, about 120 kilometres from Cairo, killing 27 people and injuring 78, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
Security sources said the primary investigations suggest that a person put an explosive device inside the church during the Christian prayers celebrating the Palm Sunday. However, others said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
Hours later, a suicide bomber struck the Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria's Manshyia district, police said.
The latest figure puts the combined death toll from the Tanta and Alexandria attacks at 45.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the twin attacks on churches on Palm Sunday, one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar.
"Islamic State squads carried out the attacks on two churches in Tanta and Alexandria," said the group's propaganda news agency 'Amaq' on its social media accounts.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in a televised statement, announced a "state of emergency for three months" after a meeting of the national defence council.
Meanwhile, security forces dismantled two explosive devices at Sidi Abdel Rahim Mosque in Tanta city. The mosque, which includes a Sufi shrine, is considered the second most important mosque in city, Al-Ahram Arabic reported.
Sisi condemned the attack and said such terrorist acts will not terrify Egyptians.
(With agency inputs)
1. 45 killed in two church blasts in Egypt
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Egyptians gather around a body in a street near a church in Alexandria after a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9, 2017.
Image courtesy: AFP
2. Coffins
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Relatives of victims react to coffins arriving to the Coptic church that was bombed on Sunday .
Image courtesy: Reuters
3. Over 120 injured
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Egyptians load a body onto an ambulance near a church in Alexandria after a bomb blast struck worshippers gathering to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9.
Image courtesy: AFP
4. Severed limbs strewn everywhere
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Egyptians look at severed limbs of victims after a suicide bomber exploded a bomb in front of a church in Alexandria, Egypt on April 9.
Image courtesy: Reuters
5. The church in Alexandria
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Egyptians look at the scene of a suicide bombing outside a church in Alexandria, Egypt on Sunday.
Image courtesy: Reuters
6. Tanta's Coptic Church
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A general view is seen as Egyptians gather by a Coptic church that was bombed on Sunday in Tanta, Egypt, April 9.
Image courtesy: Reuters
7. Relatives mourn
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A relative of one of the victims reacts after a church explosion killed 45 in Tanta, Egypt.
Image courtesy: Reuters
8. Bloodstains
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Blood stains pews inside the St. George Church after a suicide bombing, in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, Egypt, Sunday, April 9.
Image courtesy: Reuters
9. Site of explosion
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A forensics personnel inspects the site of an explosion that took place at a Coptic church on Sunday in Tanta, Egypt.
Image courtesy: Reuters
10. The aftermath
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The aftermath of an explosion that took place at a Coptic church on Sunday in Tanta, Egypt.
Image courtesy: Reuters
11. Coffins are seen in the bombed church
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Coffins are seen inside the Coptic church that was bombed on Sunday, in Tanta, Egypt.
Image courtesy: Reuters
12. President Sisi declares 3-month emergency in Egypt
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stands and observes a minute of silence for the victims of two separate church attacks during Palm Sunday prayers, with leaders of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and the Supreme Council for Police to discuss developments in the security situation in Egypt, as well as developments in the country's fight against terrorism, at the Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt on April 9.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in a televised statement, announced a "state of emergency for three months" after a meeting of the national defence council.
Image courtesy: Reuters
