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Car bomb hits church in Egypt, 7 dead
Source: Agencies |
January 1, 2011, Saturday
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A car bomb exploded outside a church and killed seven people in Egypt's northern city of Alexandria as worshippers gathered to mark the New Year, the Interior Ministry said today.
It said a further 24 people were wounded in the incident, which swiftly prompted hundreds of Christians to take to the street in protest. Some Christians and Muslims pelted each other with rocks, a witness said. Cars were torched.
Christians in Muslim-majority Egypt make up about 10 percent of the nation's 79 million people. Tensions can flare into violence, often over issues such as the building of churches or relationships between members of the two communities.
"We sacrifice our souls and blood for the Cross," shouted Christians near the Coptic Orthodox church where the blast struck, the witness said.
Police used teargas to disperse the crowd. Ambulances were also at the scene where medical personnel gathered body parts that were scattered over the area by the blast.
"This is a scene from Baghdad," one witness told Reuters by telephone, a reference to explosions more commonly seen in Iraq.
A statement from the Interior Ministry said the blast occurred just after midnight in front of the church after a service to mark the New Year. It said the blast damaged a mosque near the church and eight Muslims were among the 24 wounded.
It said a further 24 people were wounded in the incident, which swiftly prompted hundreds of Christians to take to the street in protest. Some Christians and Muslims pelted each other with rocks, a witness said. Cars were torched.
Christians in Muslim-majority Egypt make up about 10 percent of the nation's 79 million people. Tensions can flare into violence, often over issues such as the building of churches or relationships between members of the two communities.
"We sacrifice our souls and blood for the Cross," shouted Christians near the Coptic Orthodox church where the blast struck, the witness said.
Police used teargas to disperse the crowd. Ambulances were also at the scene where medical personnel gathered body parts that were scattered over the area by the blast.
"This is a scene from Baghdad," one witness told Reuters by telephone, a reference to explosions more commonly seen in Iraq.
A statement from the Interior Ministry said the blast occurred just after midnight in front of the church after a service to mark the New Year. It said the blast damaged a mosque near the church and eight Muslims were among the 24 wounded.
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