Egypt
Palm Sunday Martyrs — Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of Alexandria
9 April 2017
Summary
A suicide bomber detonated himself at the security gate of the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral of Alexandria in the Ramel Station district, while Pope Tawadros II was inside the church presiding over the Palm Sunday liturgy. The explosion killed 18 people, including several police officers and soldiers who confronted the bomber and prevented him from entering the church, and injured dozens more. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which became known alongside the Tanta bombing as the 'Palm Sunday Bombings.'
Incident Details
The suicide bomber attempted to pass through the outer security gate of the cathedral amid the large crowd of Palm Sunday worshippers. A security force of officers and soldiers from the Alexandria Security Directorate confronted him before he reached the church door, and he detonated his explosive vest among them, preventing a larger massacre that would have claimed the lives of the hundreds of worshippers inside the church, including Pope Tawadros II himself, who was unharmed.
Timeline
9 April 2017, morning
Bombing of Mar Girgis Abu Naga Church in Tanta (same day)
9 April 2017, afternoon, approximately three hours after the Tanta bombing
Bombing of the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria
11 October 2018
Alexandria Military Court verdict issued
February 2020
Death sentence carried out against 8 defendants
Infographic
Media Archive
Documentary videos, news coverage, and testimonies related to this event.
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