Christian survivors return to grieve
Source: Agencies |
January 3, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
DOZENS of grieving Christians returned to pray yesterday in a blood-spattered church where 21 worshippers were killed in a suicide bombing. Many of the congregation were sobbing, screaming in anger and slapping themselves in grief.
The attack in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria took place as worshippers were leaving midnight Mass on Saturday, about 30 minutes into the new year. Egyptian officials immediately blamed it on foreigners and al-Qaida, even before they completed an investigation. About 100 people were wounded in the attack.
During the Mass yesterday, authorities deployed heavy security outside the Saints Church, including riot police and armored vehicles. Riots erupted in Saturday in Alexandria when Christians, accusing authorities of not doing enough to protect them, clashed with police and Muslims.
"We spend every holiday in grief," said Sohair Fawzy, a woman who attended the Mass on Sunday and lost two sisters and a niece in the attack.
Inside the church, the floor was still stained with blood, two statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary were toppled and benches were scattered by the impact of the blast. A red foam sign that read "2011" on the church's door was torn apart. A wooden cross hanging on the church gate was covered with a white sheet stained with victims' blood, and bits of human flesh remained stuck on the gate.
Young Christian men prevented cleaners from removing the flesh. "Leave it. This is pure blood," one of the men shouted.
Father Maqar, who led the service, did not give a sermon, preferring to express his grief with silence. "I tell Christians to pray and pray to ease their agony," he said after the service.
Security officials said 25 people have been detained for questioning, but none was thought to be linked to the attack. They said the 25 were mostly owners of cars parked outside the church at the time, storekeepers and Muslim neighbors known to be Islamic fundamentalists.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but President Hosni Mubarak blamed "foreign hands" and Alexandria's governor, Adel Labib, accused al-Qaida. He pointed to threats against Iraqi Christians by the group.
Investigators were examining two heads found at the scene on suspicion that at least one was a bomber's, Egypt's state news agency MENA said. The Interior Ministry said the explosives used in the attack were locally made.
Christians form 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million population.
The attack in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria took place as worshippers were leaving midnight Mass on Saturday, about 30 minutes into the new year. Egyptian officials immediately blamed it on foreigners and al-Qaida, even before they completed an investigation. About 100 people were wounded in the attack.
During the Mass yesterday, authorities deployed heavy security outside the Saints Church, including riot police and armored vehicles. Riots erupted in Saturday in Alexandria when Christians, accusing authorities of not doing enough to protect them, clashed with police and Muslims.
"We spend every holiday in grief," said Sohair Fawzy, a woman who attended the Mass on Sunday and lost two sisters and a niece in the attack.
Inside the church, the floor was still stained with blood, two statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary were toppled and benches were scattered by the impact of the blast. A red foam sign that read "2011" on the church's door was torn apart. A wooden cross hanging on the church gate was covered with a white sheet stained with victims' blood, and bits of human flesh remained stuck on the gate.
Young Christian men prevented cleaners from removing the flesh. "Leave it. This is pure blood," one of the men shouted.
Father Maqar, who led the service, did not give a sermon, preferring to express his grief with silence. "I tell Christians to pray and pray to ease their agony," he said after the service.
Security officials said 25 people have been detained for questioning, but none was thought to be linked to the attack. They said the 25 were mostly owners of cars parked outside the church at the time, storekeepers and Muslim neighbors known to be Islamic fundamentalists.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but President Hosni Mubarak blamed "foreign hands" and Alexandria's governor, Adel Labib, accused al-Qaida. He pointed to threats against Iraqi Christians by the group.
Investigators were examining two heads found at the scene on suspicion that at least one was a bomber's, Egypt's state news agency MENA said. The Interior Ministry said the explosives used in the attack were locally made.
Christians form 10 percent of Egypt's 80 million population.
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