Cairo church comes under fire; casualties reported

By Mohamed al-Rayes

CAIRO (AA) - A church south of Cairo was targeted in an armed attack on Friday amid reports of casualties, according to Egyptian media outlets.

State-run news agency Al-Ahram reported that the Marminna Church in Cairo’s southern Helwan district had come under fire by unknown assailants, resulting in an as-yet-undetermined number of injuries.

State daily Akhbar al-Youm, meanwhile, reported that a “terrorist” had been shot dead by police after attempting to force his way into the church.

Initial reports have yet to be confirmed by independent sources.

In April, a deadly attack on two churches in northern Egypt left 45 people dead. The Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack, which coincided with the Christian Palm Sunday holiday.