Egypt: Deadly attack at Coptic church in Cairo Dec. 29 /update 1

Event

Unidentified gunmen carried out an attack at the Saint Mina Coptic church in Cairo's southern Helwan district on the morning of Friday, December 29 (local time). At least five people, including two police officers, were killed in the attack and five other injured before security forces managed to kill one of the assailants; unconfirmed reports indicate that a second gunman managed to flee the scene.

Police operations are ongoing in Helwan and heightened security measures should be expected throughout Cairo.

Context

The Christian community has been targeted in a number of violent attacks in Egypt in recent months, including coordinated Palm Sunday attacks in Cairo in April of this year, as well as another attack in May on a bus carrying Coptic Christians on their way to the Saint Samuel Monastery, near Minya. Each attack left dozens of people dead and was claimed by the Islamic State (IS).

Advice

Individuals in Cairo are advised to avoid the area until the situation stabilizes.

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, especially during the holiday season, individuals throughout Egypt should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (e.g. public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Some governments advise their nationals against travel to the Sinai region, where the authorities maintain a media blackout and special security zones due to the persistent terrorist threat.