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ISIS attaks Coptic churches in Egypt

The Archdiocese of the Western USA condemns the vicious attacks on innocent worshippers in St George (Mar Girgis) Coptic church in Tanta and in front of St Mark´s church in Alexandria, Egypt.

At least 55 people were killed and more than 70 were wounded by an explosion at a Coptic Christian church in northern Egypt during a service to celebrate Palm Sunday, state television reported.

Several hours after the bombing in Tanta, another explosion hit in front of St Mark's church in Alexandria, killing many people and injuring more than 30, the health ministry said. Coptic Pope His Holiness Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, was inside the Cathedral, at the time of the explosion, presiding over Palm Sunday celebrations.
We express our profound sorrow and offered condolences to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and prayers for the families of the victims, for the wounded and for all the people of Egypt. In the face of this brutality, the human family, all people of faith and of good will, must stand together to recommit to respecting and caring for one another, to protecting one another, and to preventing such violence.

"Coptic churches and homes have been set on fire, members of the Coptic minority have been physically attacked, and their property has been looted," rights group Amnesty
International reported in March.

We extend our prayers and condolences to all those who lost loved ones this Palm Sunday and we are mourning the loss of innocent people, of family members and friends, asking God to protect His people, inheritance, from all kinds of harm of this world.