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| Church bombing in Egypt kills at least 21 | Church bombing in Egypt kills at least 21 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 21 people have been killed and 38 wounded after a bomb exploded at an Egyptian church packed with Palm Sunday worshippers. | At least 21 people have been killed and 38 wounded after a bomb exploded at an Egyptian church packed with Palm Sunday worshippers. |
| Magdi Awad, head of the area's ambulance service, confirmed the death toll, while state TV reported 50 were injured. | Magdi Awad, head of the area's ambulance service, confirmed the death toll, while state TV reported 50 were injured. |
| The attack took place in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, north of Cairo. | The attack took place in the Nile Delta town of Tanta, north of Cairo. |
| It was the latest in a series of assaults on Egypt's Christian minority, which makes up around 10 percent of the population and has been repeatedly targeted by Islamic extremists. | It was the latest in a series of assaults on Egypt's Christian minority, which makes up around 10 percent of the population and has been repeatedly targeted by Islamic extremists. |
| Video footage and images reportedly taken from inside the church show a large number of people gathered around what appear to be lifeless, bloody bodies covered with papers. | Video footage and images reportedly taken from inside the church show a large number of people gathered around what appear to be lifeless, bloody bodies covered with papers. |
| Eyewitnesses to the blast described a scene of carnage to Reuters. | |
| "There was a huge explosion in the hall. Fire and smoke filled the room and the injuries were extremely severe. I saw the intestines of those injured and legs severed entirely from their bodies," Vivian Fareeg said. | |
| The attack has not yet been claimed. | The attack has not yet been claimed. |
| Egypt has struggled to combat a wave of Islamic militancy since the 2013 military overthrow of elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. | Egypt has struggled to combat a wave of Islamic militancy since the 2013 military overthrow of elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. |
| A local Isis affiliate group claimed a suicide bombing at a church in Cairo in December that killed around 30 people, mostly women, as well as a string of killings in the restive Sinai Peninsula that caused hundreds of Christians to flee to safer areas of the country. | |
| A militant group called Liwa al-Thawra claimed responsibility for a 1 April bomb attack targeting a police training centre in Tanta, which wounded 16 people. | |
| However, the group, believed to be linked to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, has mainly targeted security forces and distanced itself from attacks on Christians. | However, the group, believed to be linked to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, has mainly targeted security forces and distanced itself from attacks on Christians. |
| Additional reporting by agencies |