The Latest: Scandinavian leaders condemn Egypt Copts attack

By The Associated Press

CAIRO – The Latest on developments in Egypt (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

Scandinavian leaders have joined the chorus of world leaders condemning the attack on Coptic Christians travelling to a remote desert monastery south of Cairo that killed 29.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen says “we are united in fighting terrorism” and added Saturday that those behind it were “primitive terrorist criminals.”

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende tweeted that he was “appalled by yet another deadly attack on #CopticChristians in #Egypt. Rel. minorities must be protected in Egypt and across the world.”

His Swedish counterpart, Margot Wallstrom, said Sweden strongly condemns the attack, adding “our thoughts go to the victims’ families & all affected.”

___

1:50 p.m.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on Coptic Christians travelling to a remote desert monastery south of Cairo that killed 29.

The group’s news agency, Aamaq, said on Saturday that an IS unit targeted the bus the previous day and put the death toll at 32.

The discrepancy in casualty figures is not uncommon in the aftermath of major attacks by the militants, who have been waging an insurgency centred at northern Sinai, though attacks on the mainland have recently increased.

Egypt responded to the attack, the fourth since December by IS to target Christians, with airstrikes against what the military says are bases in eastern Libya in which the militants have been trained.

___

10:10 a.m.

Egyptian authorities say the death toll in the ambush attack on a bus transporting Christians to a monastery south of Cairo has risen to 29.

The Egyptian Cabinet said in a news release that 13 victims of Friday’s attack remain hospitalized in Cairo and the southern city of Minya where the attack took place. Authorities had previously said 28 were killed.

The attack came on the eve of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It was the fourth to target the country’s Christian minority since December.

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said that suspected Islamic State group militants attacked the bus and that Egypt had launched airstrikes against what he said were militant training bases in Libya.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today