Rushing into the churches, shouting Islamic slogans and stabbing the worshippers, three men armed with knives attacked four separate Coptic churches in Alexandria, Egypt on Good Friday, April 14. One culprit attacked two churches, one attacked a third church and another was foiled in his attempt on a fourth congregation. Nushi Atta Girgis (78) was stabbed at the Quidissin church and died in hospital. At least twelve others were injured. The attacks appear to have been a coordinated Islamist assault.
Protests against the attacks led to further violence as Muslims and Coptic Christians clashed in the streets. Several were injured and none Muslim, Mustafa Meshaal, died.
Police have arrested a 25-year-old unemployed man for his part in the Friday attacks. Authorities have described Mahmoud Abdul Razik Salah Eddin Hussein as "mentally unstable." Initially, police claimed that he was the sole assailant, although they could not explain how four churches could be attacked virtually simultaneously by one man, especially when one church is forty-five minutes away from the others.
Ask God to give the Coptic Christians in Alexandria an attitude of forgiveness and love for those who have so openly expressed their opposition to them (Matthew 43-44). Pray that there will be no further clashes between the Muslims and Copts in the area. Ask God to bring comfort to the family and friends of Nushi Atta Girgis. Pray that the Muslims will see the love of Christ and respond in faith to Him.
Video footage on the aftermath of these attacks is available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/. For more information on the difficulties facing Christians in Egypt, click here.
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