Egyptian security forces killed seven people allegedly "sympathetic" to the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in the country on Monday as they took part in a meeting to launch new attacks against minority Christians, the Egyptian government said in a statement. Interior
The incident, in a mountainous area near the southern Egyptian city of Assiut, came a day after the Egyptian government approved a state of emergency across the country for three months, following attacks on Coptic churches that resulted in the death of a total of 45 people and injured dozens more. The IK claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The seven alleged jihadists were killed after gunfire erupted against security forces who approached them, according to an Interior Ministry statement. The suspects intended to plant bombs to carry out new attacks against minority Christians in the area, according to the same source. There is a fairly large Christian community in Assiut. The group also planned attacks on police and courts. According to the same source, ammunition, weapons, a motorcycle, books and IK publications were confiscated.
Of the seven dead, three have been identified. They were presented by the Egyptian authorities as sympathizers of the IK wanted by the security.
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the general who became president, launched the toughest campaign to suppress Islamists in Egypt's modern history after ousting President Mohamed Morsi - a politician belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood - in 2013 amid protests. . Sunday's bombings targeted Coptic churches in Alexandria and Tanta. They marked one of the bloodiest days for Egypt's Christian minority, the largest in the Middle East in recent history.
The Copts, who have lived in Egypt since Roman times, complain of persecution and accuse the state of not doing enough to protect them.
Source: SigmaLive