At least 26 killed as gunmen attack bus carrying Coptic Christians in Egypt

At least 26 people, mostly children, were killed and 25 other injured yesterday when masked gunmen wearing army uniforms opened fire on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in central Egypt, the second major attack on the community in nearly two months

On April 9, two suicide bombings targeting churches in Tanta and  Alexandria left at least 46 people dead. Fileâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088pic for representation

At least 26 people, mostly children, were killed and 25 other injured yesterday when masked gunmen wearing army uniforms opened fire on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in central Egypt, the second major attack on the community in nearly two months.

The bus came under attack when it was heading to Anba Samuel monastery in the Minya Governorate, 250km south of Cairo. The gunmen were riding in three 4x4 vehicles, the Ministry of Interior said. Twenty-six Christians were killed and 25 others injured in the attack, it said. Sources and eyewitnesses said that most of the victims were children.

Reports said there had been between eight and 10 attackers who were wearing military uniforms. Security forces were searching for the attackers. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. There have been a number of attacks on Copts in the country in recent months claimed by Islamic State (IS) militants. Two suicide bombings targeting churches in Tanta and Alexandria on April 9 left at least 46 people dead. In December, an attack on a Coptic church in Cairo killed 25 people.

Coptic Christians, which make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's 91 million population, have faced persecution in Egypt, which has spiked since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime in 2011.

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