Coptic churches attacked in Egypt

Two Coptic Christian churches, in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria in northern Egypt, were targeted by bombings during the celebration of Palm Sunday on April 9. In the attacks, at least 45 people were killed and dozens more were injured. The Islamist militant group Daesh (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack. 

The Egyptian government declared a 3-month state of emergency after the attacks, giving authorities more power to make arrests.

On April 18, militants confronted security forces at St. Catherine’s Monastery in the southern Sinai Peninsula, killing one person and wounding four others. No group claimed responsibility. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, St. Catherine’s is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world.