On Sunday morning, 11th December, the compound housing the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo was hit by a bomb attack. At 10am local time a bomb exploded in the Church of St. Peter, adjacent to the main Cathedral.
At least 25 people have died in the attack and a further 49 are reported to be wounded. Hundreds of Christians but also Muslims have gathered outside the compound to denounce the bombing. The president of Egypt has also condemned the bombing and declared three days of mourning, starting on Monday.
Islamic extremists are suspected to be behind the bombing. They also claimed responsibility for two bomb attacks against security forces two days earlier in another part of Cairo.
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Prayer points
Christians in Egypt ask us to pray:
a. for God’s comfort for those who lost loved ones and for full recovery of the injured
b. for comfort and encouragement for the wider Christian community and God’s protection over his church in Egypt and other targets of these attacks
c. that the perpetrators of these violent attacks will be found and brought to justice.