Suicide attack on Egypt church foiled

Bomber blows himself up before reaching Virgin Church near Cairo after confronting heavy police presence

By AFP 12 August 2018, 2:50 am 0 Edit

Members of the Egyptian security forces form a perimeter for investigators gathered around the body of a suicide bomber, whose explosives detonated before reaching the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary, in the eastern Mostorod neighbourhood of the district of Shubra al-Kheima on the northern outskirts of the capital Cairo, on August 11, 2018. (AFP/ STRINGER)

CAIRO, Egypt — A suicide attack against a church on the outskirts of Cairo was foiled Saturday when a bomber blew himself up before reaching the target, state media and security sources said.

The alleged assailant was forced to detonate a suicide belt as a result of the heavy police presence around the Virgin Church in the Shobra el-Kheima district, state media reported.

The man was hiding the explosives under a fluorescent vest, state-run newspaper Akhbar el-Youm said.

The blast took place about 200 meters away from the church, security officials said.

Christian sites of worship across Egypt have been repeatedly targeted in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.