UPDATE - 43 killed in church bombings in Egypt

ADDS UPDATE ON CASUALTIES

By Reia Mahmud

CAIRO (AA) – At least 43 people were killed and 119 injured in two church bombings on Sunday claimed by Daesh terrorist group in Egypt as worshipers were marking Palm Sunday.

A Health Ministry statement said that an explosion struck inside St. George church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, killing at least 27 people and injuring 78.

Hours later, 16 people were killed and 41 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a security checkpoint outside St. Mark’s Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria.

Egypt's presidency has announced three days of mourning.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said a bomber detonated himself after being prevented from breaking through the security cordon around the cathedral. It confirmed that four policemen were among those killed in the attack.

A source from the cathedral confirmed that Coptic Pope Tawadros II was inside the church when the bombing took place but he was unhurt.

Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks via its Amaq news agency.

The bombings occurred on Palm Sunday, a Christian feast commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

In December, a bomb blast struck a church in central Cairo, killing more than 25 people and injured scores.

Coptic Christians are estimated to account for between 8 and 10 percent of Egypt's population of about 90 million.