Two Explosions in Two Churches in Egypt Leave Dozens Dead and Injured

On Sunday, April 8, two bomb explosions in two churches in northern Egypt left at least 35 dead and dozens injured. The first explosion occurred in the city of Tanta during a crowded worship service at St. George's Church. According to the Associated Press, at least 25 people were killed and over 70 injured in this explosion. The second explosion occurred hours later in an attack on a church in Alexandria, killing at least 11 people and injuring 35. Recent reports indicate that the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for these explosions in a message on its television network, Amaq. Christians, who make up about 10% of Egypt's population, have repeatedly been targeted by extremist Islamist attacks. Last December, a local branch of ISIS claimed responsibility for an explosion in a church in Cairo that left around 30 dead, most of whom were women. The group has also taken responsibility for a series of murders against Christians in the Sinai Peninsula, forcing hundreds of Christian citizens to flee to safer areas in Egypt. Recently, the Islamic State also released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya. Since the overthrow of the Islamist government in Egypt by a military government in 2013, Egyptian military forces have been trying to combat a wave of attacks from various Islamist groups. In dozens of attacks and counterattacks over the past six years, hundreds of Egyptian soldiers have been killed, and Egypt claims to have inflicted heavy casualties on Islamist fighters.