Church bombings call for united front against terror

Twin suicide bombings struck two Coptic churches in the northern cities of Tanta and Alexandria in Egypt killing 44 people during Palm Sunday services. Hours later IS group claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Mar Girgis church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta and St. Mark’s cathedral in Alexandria. At least 27 people were reported killed in the Tanta bombing 13 others died in Alexandria.
The extremist group said in a statement that two Egyptian suicide bombers named Abu Ishaq al Masri and Abu al Baraa al Masri carried out the church bombings. The attack was the deadliest in decades. IS bombings at a Cairo church in December killed 30 people.
The Palm Sunday attacks took place less than a week after US President Donald Trump welcomed the Egyptian leader to the White House. President Donald Trump joined in the international condemnation of the church bombings in Egypt. Trump spoke with President el-Sissi to convey his deepest condolences to Egypt and to the families who lost loved ones. Trump expressed his confidence that Egypt will do what it can to protect Christians and all Egyptians.
What is happening is a dangerous trend that shows IS strategy to create a religious fault line. Egypt’s Copts are one of the oldest Christian communities in the Middle East. They have put their full faith in President el-Sissi and fully supported him in his fight against extremism. The Sinai-based IS affiliate has mainly attacked police and soldiers. Now the extremists are stepping up its attacks against Christians, who make up 10 percent of the population. The extremists appear to be moving its activities from the Sinai to other parts of Egypt. They intend to fuel sectarian tensions in the country. The Copts have stood steadfast alongside the government and the aim of extremists group is to test that support with such bombings.
Soon after the terror attack, President el Sisi convened an emergency session of the national security council. This terrorism “will not undermine the will of Egyptians in facing the forces of evil, but will make them more determined to overcome hardship,” he said. Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency after the attack to deal with the IS menace. Egypt government’s measures include setting up a new, powerful, anti-terror body. The attacks hamper the government’s efforts to attract international investors to revive an economy battered by years of unrest. The people of Egypt must be patient as the country is facing security and economic challenges and rally their support behind government’s initiatives to turn the tide against extremism and revive the economy.
What is paramount is that Egyptian authority must not let this attack succeed in driving wedge between Christian minority and Muslim majority in the country. Egypt has always been a nation of tolerance and the followers of different faith have lived in the country in complete harmony since always. And they must continue to live like that. The terror will never succeed if confronted united.