A group of local Islamic hardliners, inspired by al-Qaeda and based in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria could be behind the New Year suicide bombing of a church in Egypt, investigators said.
The bombing had sparked riots and protests by Egypt’s minority Christians who feel they are targeted and discriminated against. They say the Egyptian government does not provide them adequate security.
After the bombing, though, security outside churches across the country was stepped up. Even at the Saints Church which witnessed the bloody bombing several people turned up on Jan 2 for the Sunday mass. Many of them were seen sobbing, screaming and slapping themselves in grief.
While no group has responsibility for the attack yet, Egyptian authorities were quick to blame the attack on ‘foreign-backed fundamentalists’.
However, investigators are said to be looking at the possibility that homegrown Islamic fundamentalists could be behind the dastardly attack. Police are screening a list of air passengers who arrived recently in Egypt from Iraq because al Qaeda in that country had threatened Christians in both the countries.
Police are also examining two heads severed from the bodies in the impact of the blast found at the site of the attack. One of the heads is said to be that of the bomber’s. The lab investigation found the explosives used in the attack were local in nature and were filled with nails and ball bearings to maximize the impact.
Egypt has a rising movement of Islamic hardliners who adhere to an ideology similar to al Qaeda’s. The hardliners are known as Salafis and have a large presence in Alexandria.
Alexandria is an ancient city home to Muslims, Christians and Jews. It has also been in the news for the wrong reasons. Stabbings at three Alexandria churches in 2006 had sparked off three days of sectarian violence that left four people dead.
At the Saints Church on Sunday, Father Maqar did not give a sermon. He preferred to express his grief in silence.
“I am asking Christians to pray and pray to ease their agony,” he told the media.
In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI said the attack “offends God and all of humanity.”
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