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'We were scooping up people’s flesh'

Egypt bomb blast kills at least 25 as Coptic Christian cathedral is ‘targeted by jihadi thugs’ just two weeks before Christmas

At least six children are among the dead

A DEADLY blast inside Cairo's Coptic cathedral has killed 25 people and wounded 49 - as witnesses described "scooping up people's flesh off the floor" in the aftermath of the horrific attack.

Six children are among the dead, and most of the fatalities are women.

A nun reacts as Egyptian security forces inspect the scene of the bomb explosion
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A nun reacts as Egyptian security forces inspect the scene of the bomb explosionCredit: Getty Images

Islamic State has not claimed responsibility, however its members celebrated the atrocity which takes place just two weeks before Christmas.

"God is great, God is great, God is great," one wrote on Telegram messenger.

"God bless the person who did this blessed act," wrote another, also on Telegram.

At least 25 people have lost their lives in the terror blast at Cairo's Coptic cathedral
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At least 25 people have lost their lives in the terror blast at Cairo's Coptic cathedralCredit: Reuters
A Muslim woman cries while sitting in front of police officers at the scene
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A Muslim woman cries while sitting in front of police officers at the sceneCredit: Reuters
A worker cleans the scene inside St Mark Cathedral in central Cairo, following a bombing
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A worker cleans the scene inside St Mark Cathedral in central Cairo, following a bombingCredit: AP:Associated Press

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“I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible scene,” said cathedral worker Attiya Mahrous, who rushed to the chapel after he heard the blast. His clothes and hands were stained with blood and his hair matted with dust.

“I saw a headless woman being carried away,” Mariam Shenouda said as she pounded her chest in grief. “Everyone was in a state of shock. We were scooping up people’s flesh off the floor.”

“There were children. What have they done to deserve this? I wish I had died with them instead of seeing these scenes,” she added.

A device containing 12 kg of the explosive TNT had denoted on the women's side of the cathedral, security sources said.

 

Egyptian security forces examine the scene
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Egyptian security forces examine the sceneCredit: AP:Associated Press
Damage is seen inside, where it is said six children died
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Damage is seen inside, where it is said six children diedCredit: AP:Associated Press
Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail speaks with a Coptic priest outside the church
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Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail speaks with a Coptic priest outside the churchCredit: EPA

The blast took place as a Sunday Mass being held in the chapel was about to end and coincided with a national holiday in Egypt marking the birth of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

State television aired calls by several Cairo hospitals treating the wounded for blood donations and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi declared a three-day state of mourning.

“The pain felt by Egyptians now will not go to waste, but will result in an uncompromising decisiveness to hunt down and bring to trial whoever helped through inciting, facilitating, participating or executing this heinous crime,” a presidential statement quoted the Egyptian leader as saying.

Emad Shoukry, who was inside the cathedral when the blast took place, said: "As soon as the priest called us to prepare for prayer, the explosion happened.

"The explosion shook the place.

"The dust covered the hall and I was looking for the door, although I couldn't see anything.

"I managed to leave in the middle of screams and there were a lot of people thrown on the ground.

Orthodox Copts, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's 90million people, are the Middle East's biggest Christian community.

They have long complained of discrimination under successive Egyptian leaders.

Blood stains and belongings of victims seen inside the church
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Blood stains and belongings of victims seen inside the churchCredit: EPA
Members of the special police forces stand guard to secure the area around the blast site
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Members of the special police forces stand guard to secure the area around the blast siteCredit: AP:Associated Press
A worker surveys the damage at the site
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A worker surveys the damage at the siteCredit: Reuters

Islamists are waging an insurgency led by Islamic State's branch in North Sinai, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed.

The insurgents have also launched deadly attacks Cairo and other cities.

On Friday, two roadside bombs - one in Cairo and one north of the capital - killed six policemen and wounded six others.


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