Egypt: IS claims attacks on Coptic Christians in Cairo December 29 /update 2

Event

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for two deadly attacks targeting Coptic Christians on Friday, December 29, which killed nine people in Cairo's Helwan district. A single gunman killed two people in a shop owned by Coptic Christians in Helwan district on Friday, before opening fire at the nearby Saint Mina Coptic Church and killing seven others; the gunman was later wounded and arrested. Police cordoned off the scene around the church following the attack, and security forces have implemented heightened security measures in several checkpoints in Cairo in response. A heightened security presence and associated traffic disruptions are expected in the coming days in Cairo and other Egyptian cities ahead of Coptic Christmas, celebrated on January 7.

Context

The attacks come after the Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced on December 19 that a heightened security presence had been deployed throughout the country ahead of Christmas celebrations that will last through Sunday, January 7. Some 230,000 police officers and security forces from several Egyptian state departments were deployed to provide security for over 2600 churches, public institutions, and heavily trafficked parks nationwide.

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 IS.

Advice

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.