Egyptian Police Kill Seven Jihadists Following Church Bombings
Hours after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a crackdown on extremists, Egyptian security forces immediately produced results by raiding a compound and engaging a group of jihadists to a shootout, killing them instantly. The group was allegedly planning to attack a monastery.
Al-Sisi implemented a three-month state of emergency on Monday, April 10, following the twin church bombings the previous day, Daily Mail reported. The first to explode was a bomb at St. George Church in Tanta city. Two hours later, another explosive device detonated at St. Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria city.
Egypt's Interior Ministry said authorities raided a desert compound in a remote part of Assuit province where seven jihadists were planning more attacks on religious minorities. The group opened fire at the raiding team which triggered a shootout and killed the suspects, one of them a government employee.
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Al-Sisi lauded the accomplishment of security forces, saying jihadis are trying to divide Egyptian society by attacking minorities. Three of the fatalities were identified as Hasan Abdel-Al Siddiq, 30, an employee with the Directorate of Health; law student Islam Said Abdel Salam Ismail, 21; and Mustapha al-Sayyed Muhammad Dhahr, 22.
Recovered from the site were machine guns, AK47s, ammunition belts and magazines, a motorcycle and extremist propaganda. Also found were pads filled with notes outlining plans to attack a monastery in Durunka, Christians across Assuit and Sohag provinces as well as police officers, government buildings and a courthouse.
Despite the development, there are concerns that the state of emergency might target the wrong people.
"It may actually be used to stop freedom of expression and allow the authorities to abuse citizens' rights," Ishak Ibrahim, a researcher on Egypt's Coptic issues, told CNN.
Christian Copts who represent 10 percent of Egypt's 91 million people have lived in the country since the Roman era. Throughout the centuries, they have faced countless persecutions being the minority. The rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) has increased the frequency and severity of the persecutions.
