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Egyptian police kill seven suspected Islamic State militants in shootout

ByReuters
An armed policeman secures the Coptic church that was bombed on Sunday in Tanta, Egypt April 10, 2017. Reuters
An armed policeman secures the Coptic church that was bombed on Sunday in Tanta, Egypt April 10, 2017. Reuters
The aftermath of an explosion that took place at a Coptic church on Sunday in Tanta, Egypt, April 9, 2017. Reuters
Egyptians look at victims after suicide bomber in front of a church in Alexandria, Egypt, April 9, 2017. Reuters

The incident in the southern city of Assiut occurred a day after Egypt's Cabinet approved a three-month state of emergency in the wake of Islamic State attacks on two Christian Coptic churches that killed at least 44 people.

The seven militants were killed after they opened fire on security forces who approached them as they were meeting to plot further attacks on Christians, the ministry said in a statement. Assiut has a significant Christian population.

Ammunition, weapons, a motorcycle and Islamic State books and publications were found at the scene, the statement said.

The aftermath of explosion at church in Tanta.

The aftermath of explosion at church in Tanta.

Egyptians look at victims after suicide blast in front of church in Alexandria.

Egyptians look at victims after suicide blast in front of church in Alexandria.

General-turned-President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi launched the toughest crackdown on Islamists in Egypt's modern history after toppling President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following protests against his turbulent year in office.

Sunday's bombings targeted Coptic churches in Alexandria and Tanta and marked one of the bloodiest days in recent memory for Egypt's Christian minority, the largest in the Middle East.

The Copts, whose presence in Egypt dates to the Roman era, have long complained of religious persecution and accused the state of not doing enough to protect them.

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