Egypt
Martyrs of Saints Church, Alexandria
1 January 2011
Summary
A terrorist bombing targeted the Church of Saints, the Apostle Mark and Pope Peter the Seal of the Martyrs in the Sidi Bishr district of eastern Alexandria, as worshippers were leaving the New Year's Eve liturgy. The explosion killed 23 people and injured approximately 97 others. This incident is considered the first terrorist bombing of this scale to target a church in modern Egyptian history.
Background
The bombing came approximately two months after the bombing of the Church of Our Lady of Salvation for Syrian Catholics in Baghdad by the Islamic State of Iraq (affiliated with al-Qaeda), which had threatened the Coptic Church in Egypt with a similar fate unless two Coptic women — Camilia Shehata and Wafaa Constantine — whom the group claimed had converted to Islam and were being held against their will in the church, were released. The church itself had also been attacked in 2006 in a knife attack that killed one person and injured two.
Incident Details
An explosive device detonated directly in front of the church as worshippers were leaving the New Year's Eve liturgy, amid a large gathering of celebrators. Following the explosion, hundreds of angry Christians gathered in front of a mosque opposite the church in an attempt to storm it, amid a state of anger and chaos.
Timeline
2006
Previous knife attack at Saints Church killing one and injuring two
31 October 2010
Church of Our Lady of Salvation bombing in Baghdad and threat against the Coptic Church in Egypt
31 December 2010 evening / 1 January 2011, 12:20 AM
Explosive device detonates in front of Saints Church in Sidi Bishr after New Year's Eve liturgy
22 January 2011
Martyr Samuel George dies from injuries
7 February 2011
Public prosecutor officially charges former Interior Minister Habib el-Adly with involvement in the bombing
12 February 2012
Martyr Magdy Boules dies from injuries
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Mahabb Zakki
Mina Wagdy
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Magdy Bolos
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Michael Sabry
Nasri Atta Girgs
Peter Samy
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Sabry Fawzy
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Samuel George
Samuel Mikhail
Financial Manager at Sharoubim Contracting Company
Adel Aziz Ghattas
Clothing store owner
Fayez Tawfik
Import/export and customs clearance company owner (Overseas)
Melawi Center, Minya Governorate
Teresa Fawzy
Director General at the Ministry of Education
Zahia Fawzy
Inspector at the Housing and Surveillance Directorate in Smouha
Samira Suleiman
Head of the Analytical Laboratory at Saint Mark's Hospital, secondary girls' service coordinator
Mariam Fikry
Second-year student at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology
Sonia Suleiman
Martina Fikry
First-year preparatory school student
Lily Gaber
Akhmim City
Mary Hanna
Accounts Manager at Egypt Insurance Company in Aswan
Media Archive
Documentary videos, news coverage, and testimonies related to this event.
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