RIYADH - Saudi Arabia condemned in the strongest words the terrorist bombings that targeted a Coptic church in Cairo on Sunday, resulting in scores of deaths and injuries, an official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
“Such cowardly act is deplorable by Islam and all religions, as it contravenes the human values and principles and international conventions," the source said while offering condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Egyptian government and people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack, which targeted St Peter's Church in Abbassia in Cairo on Sunday morning.
OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and government of Egypt, wishing the wounded a speedy recovery.
The secretary general also reaffirmed the OIC’s continued support to Egypt in its war on terror, reiterating the OIC’s principled position which condemns terror in all its forms and manifestations.
The head of Al-Azhar, Egypt’s top Sunni authority, condemned a bomb blast Sunday that killed at least 25 worshipers inside a Cairo church as “a great crime” against all Egyptians.
“The vile terrorist explosion” was “a great crime against all Egyptians”, Al-Azhar’s grand imam Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, said in a statement.
The explosion struck inside a church near the seat of the Coptic pope who heads Egypt’s Christian minority, at around 10:00 am (0800 GMT), security officials said.
They said that at least six children were among the dead. Police and armored vehicles filled the streets surrounding the church and tens of protesters have gathered in front of the church to call for retribution.
A device containing about 12 kg (26 pounds) of the explosive TNT had denoted on the women’s side of the cathedral, the security sources said.
Egypt’s presidential office described in a statement the attack as an act of “terrorism” and declared a state of mourning for three days across the country starting today. Also, the government and Al-Azhar condemned, the attack.
We will not allow the terrorist to threaten our national unity with Muslims, Hani Bakhoum, undersecretary of the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate told state television. “We will protect our national unity,” he added.
Orthodox Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 90 million people, are the Middle East’s biggest Christian community.
“As soon as the priest called us to prepare for prayer, the explosion happened,” Emad Shoukry, who was inside the cathedral when the blast took place, told Reuters.
“The explosion shook the place... The dust covered the hall and I was looking for the door, although I couldn’t see anything... I managed to leave in the middle of screams and there were a lot of people thrown on the ground,” he said.
On Friday, two roadside bombs — one in Cairo and one north of the capital — killed six policemen and wounded six others.
