Cairo (CNN) Four people have been arrested in connection with the Sunday bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told state television Monday.

The suicide bomber was 22-year-old Mahmoud Shafiq Mohamed Mostafa, who entered the church wearing an explosive belt, el-Sisi said. He added that authorities are searching for more suspects in the attack, which left 23 people dead and 49 others injured.

Meanwhile, mourners took to the streets to pay their respects to those who died in the bombing of the small church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which is attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the city's Abbassiya district.

The funeral procession for the victims was held Monday at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Nasr City and was followed by a state funeral at the Unknown Soldier Memorial.

"This strike hurt us," el-Sisi said at the state funeral. "It caused us a lot of pain, but it will never break us."

Crowds lined the streets outside the church, with some trying to reach the ambulances carrying the coffins and the procession.

There were light skirmishes between mourners and security forces as police refused to let the crowds through to the funeral procession.

One woman cried at police, "You let people enter the church with a bomb but you won't let us in?"

People began to break down, with one elderly woman saying, "we want our children and brothers, kill us with them and get it over with."

Standing in front of the coffins of the victims, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II comforted mourners and chastised those responsible for the bombing.

"Do not believe that you have achieved anything," he said.

"The pain you caused to all our hearts, to the hearts of Egypt, to the heart of every human in the entire world, this pain will be set upon you and it will fill you. You will live in destruction.

"You will see that what your blood-stained hands have done will reflect on you."

The emotional speech was dotted with ululations, more traditionally heard at weddings, performed on this occasion to celebrate the ascension of martyrs to heaven.

Cardboard placards bearing the names of those who died lined the wooden walls of the church.

Screams and wailing were heard throughout the Pope's talk and as the coffins were taken to the funeral procession to be led by el-Sisi.

On Sunday, el-Sisi condemned the attack and declared a three-day period of national mourning.

The Grand Mufti, the highest official of religious law in Egypt, also condemned the "deplorable terrorist attack" on the cathedral.

"Attacking churches whether by demolition, bombing, killing those inside, or terrifying ... secure people are prohibited in Islamic Sharia," Sheikh Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam said.

He called for unity against "black terrorism that tries to instigate sectarianism and sedition among the two wings of Egypt -- Muslims and Christians -- in a bid to weaken the nation."

The Grand Mufti and Pope Francis also extended their condolences to Pope Tawadros ll of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the cathedral Sunday to voice their anger at police and some pro-government television anchors, according to state-run Al-Ahram.

They called for the resignation of the interior minister, Magdy Abdel Ghaffar.

Protesters chanted: "This time won't pass, even if we all die. ... This is not sectarian strife, let's get the world to hear."

Hassm, the group that claimed the deadliest bomb on Friday, condemned Sunday's attack and blamed the government for it. Responding to the criticism, el-Sisi said his government is doing everything it is required to do to keep people safe.

"You don't know the size of the success we achieved even in fighting terrorism," el-Sisi said Monday. "Don't say this is a security flaw."

No one has claimed responsibility for this bombing, the deadliest attack on Copts since 2011.

Copts face persecution and discrimination that has spiked since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime in 2011. Dozens have been killed in sectarian clashes. There is also little Christian representation in Egypt's government.

Coptic Christians make up about 10% percent of Egypt's 91 million residents. They base their theology on the teachings of the Apostle Mark, who introduced Christianity to Egypt, according to St. Takla Church in Alexandria, the capital of Coptic Christianity.</s>Cairo (CNN) Four people have been arrested in connection with the Sunday bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told state television Monday.

The suicide bomber was 22-year-old Mahmoud Shafiq Mohamed Mostafa, who entered the church wearing an explosive belt, el-Sisi said. He added that authorities are searching for more suspects in the attack, which left 23 people dead and 49 others injured.

Meanwhile, mourners took to the streets to pay their respects to those who died in the bombing of the small church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which is attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the city's Abbassiya district.

The funeral procession for the victims was held Monday at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Nasr City and was followed by a state funeral at the Unknown Soldier Memorial.

"This strike hurt us," el-Sisi said at the state funeral. "It caused us a lot of pain, but it will never break us."

Crowds lined the streets outside the church, with some trying to reach the ambulances carrying the coffins and the procession.

There were light skirmishes between mourners and security forces as police refused to let the crowds through to the funeral procession.

One woman cried at police, "You let people enter the church with a bomb but you won't let us in?"

People began to break down, with one elderly woman saying, "we want our children and brothers, kill us with them and get it over with."

Standing in front of the coffins of the victims, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II comforted mourners and chastised those responsible for the bombing.

"Do not believe that you have achieved anything," he said.

"The pain you caused to all our hearts, to the hearts of Egypt, to the heart of every human in the entire world, this pain will be set upon you and it will fill you. You will live in destruction.

"You will see that what your blood-stained hands have done will reflect on you."

The emotional speech was dotted with ululations, more traditionally heard at weddings, performed on this occasion to celebrate the ascension of martyrs to heaven.

Cardboard placards bearing the names of those who died lined the wooden walls of the church.

Screams and wailing were heard throughout the Pope's talk and as the coffins were taken to the funeral procession to be led by el-Sisi.

On Sunday, el-Sisi condemned the attack and declared a three-day period of national mourning.

The Grand Mufti, the highest official of religious law in Egypt, also condemned the "deplorable terrorist attack" on the cathedral.

"Attacking churches whether by demolition, bombing, killing those inside, or terrifying ... secure people are prohibited in Islamic Sharia," Sheikh Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam said.

He called for unity against "black terrorism that tries to instigate sectarianism and sedition among the two wings of Egypt -- Muslims and Christians -- in a bid to weaken the nation."

The Grand Mufti and Pope Francis also extended their condolences to Pope Tawadros ll of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the cathedral Sunday to voice their anger at police and some pro-government television anchors, according to state-run Al-Ahram.

They called for the resignation of the interior minister, Magdy Abdel Ghaffar.

Protesters chanted: "This time won't pass, even if we all die. ... This is not sectarian strife, let's get the world to hear."

Hassm, the group that claimed the deadliest bomb on Friday, condemned Sunday's attack and blamed the government for it. Responding to the criticism, el-Sisi said his government is doing everything it is required to do to keep people safe.

"You don't know the size of the success we achieved even in fighting terrorism," el-Sisi said Monday. "Don't say this is a security flaw."

No one has claimed responsibility for this bombing, the deadliest attack on Copts since 2011.

Copts face persecution and discrimination that has spiked since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime in 2011. Dozens have been killed in sectarian clashes. There is also little Christian representation in Egypt's government.

Coptic Christians make up about 10% percent of Egypt's 91 million residents. They base their theology on the teachings of the Apostle Mark, who introduced Christianity to Egypt, according to St. Takla Church in Alexandria, the capital of Coptic Christianity.</s>An explosion inside Cairo’s Coptic cathedral killed at least 25 people, most of them women, and injured 49, Egypt’s state television said.

Security sources told Reuters that at least six children were among the dead.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, however, some supporters of the Islamic State militant group celebrated the attack on social media.

“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.

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

“As soon as the priest called us to prepare for prayer, the explosion happened,” Emad Shoukry, who was inside the cathedral when the blast took place, told Reuters.

“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,” he said.

Orthodox Copts, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt’s 90 million people, are the Middle East’s biggest Christian community. They have long complained of discrimination under successive Egyptian leaders.

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.</s>Cairo Coptic cathedral blast kills at least 25

Updated

A bombing at Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral has killed 25 people and injured another 49, according to Egyptian state television, making it one of the deadliest attacks carried out against the religious minority in recent memory.

Key points: Six children among 25 killed in St Mark's Cathedral blast

Witnesses describe "horrible scene" and flesh on the floor

No immediate claim of responsibility

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attack, which killed at least six children, security sources said.

Egypt's official MENA news agency said an assailant lobbed a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of St Mark's Cathedral, seat of Egypt's Orthodox Christian church and home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.

However, witnesses said the explosion may have been caused by an explosive device planted inside the chapel. Conflicting accounts are common in the immediate aftermath of attacks.

An Associated Press reporter who arrived at the scene shortly after the blast saw blood-stained pews and shards of glass scattered across the chapel's floor.

Men and women wailed and cried outside the chapel.

"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."

Orthodox Copts, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's 90 million people, are the Middle East's biggest Christian community. They have long complained of discrimination under successive Egyptian leaders.

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.

AP/Reuters

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, egypt

First posted</s>Cairo (CNN) Four people have been arrested in connection with the Sunday bombing of a Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told state television Monday.

The suicide bomber was 22-year-old Mahmoud Shafiq Mohamed Mostafa, who entered the church wearing an explosive belt, Sisi said, adding that authorities are searching for more suspects in the attack, which left 23 people dead and 49 others injured.

Meanwhile, mourners took to the streets to pay their respects to those who died in the bombing of the small church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which is attached to St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the city's Abbassiya district.

Egyptian mourners took to the streets in Cairo Monday.

The funeral procession for the victims was held Monday at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Nasr City and was followed by a state funeral at the Unknown Soldier Memorial.

"This strike hurt us," el-Sisi said at the state funeral. "It caused us a lot of pain, but it will never break us."

Crowds lined the streets outside the church, with some trying to reach the ambulances carrying the coffins and the procession.

There were light skirmishes between mourners and security forces as police refused to let the crowds through to the funeral procession.

One woman cried at police, "You let people enter the church with a bomb but you won't let us in?"

People began to break down, with one elderly woman saying, "we want our children and brothers, kill us with them and get it over with."

Standing in front of the coffins of the victims, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II comforted mourners and chastised those responsible for the bombing.

"Do not believe that you have achieved anything," he said.

"The pain you caused to all our hearts, to the hearts of Egypt, to the heart of every human in the entire world, this pain will be set upon you and it will fill you. You will live in destruction.

"You will see that what your blood-stained hands have done will reflect on you."

The emotional speech was dotted with ululations, more traditionally heard at weddings, performed on this occasion to celebrate the ascension of martyrs to heaven.

Cardboard placards bearing the names of those who died lined the wooden walls of the church.

Screams and wailing were heard throughout the Pope's talk and as the coffins were taken to the funeral procession to be led by Sisi.

On Sunday, Sisi condemned the attack and declared a three-day period of national mourning.

The Grand Mufti, the highest official of religious law in Egypt, also condemned the "deplorable terrorist attack" on the cathedral.

"Attacking churches whether by demolition, bombing, killing those inside, or terrifying ... secure people are prohibited in Islamic Sharia," Sheikh Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam said.

He called for unity against "black terrorism that tries to instigate sectarianism and sedition among the two wings of Egypt -- Muslims and Christians -- in a bid to weaken the nation."

The Grand Mufti and Pope Francis also extended their condolences to Pope Tawadros ll of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the cathedral Sunday to voice their anger at police and some pro-government television anchors, according to state-run Al-Ahram.

They called for the resignation of the interior minister, Magdy Abdel Ghaffar.

Protesters chanted: "This time won't pass, even if we all die. ... This is not sectarian strife, let's get the world to hear."

The group that claimed the deadliest bomb on Friday, Hassm, condemned Sunday's attack and blamed the government for it.

No one has claimed responsibility for this bombing, the deadliest attack on Copts since 2011.

Copts face persecution and discrimination that has spiked since the toppling of Hosni Mubarak's regime in 2011. Dozens have been killed in sectarian clashes. There is also little Christian representation in Egypt's government.

Coptic Christians make up about 10% percent of Egypt's 91 million residents. They base their theology on the teachings of the Apostle Mark, who introduced Christianity to Egypt, according to St. Takla Church in Alexandria, the capital of Coptic Christianity.</s>Egyptian security forces gather at the site of an explosion at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo on December 11, 2016. By Khaled Desouki (AFP)

Cairo (AFP) - A bomb blast killed at least 25 worshippers during Sunday mass inside a Cairo church near the seat of the Coptic pope who heads Egypt's Christian minority, state media said.

The explosion ripped through the church at around 10:00 am (0800 GMT), Egyptian security officials said.

It was the deadliest suspected attack on the country's beleaguered Christian minority in recent memory.

The blast in the church adjacent to Saint Mark's Coptic Cathedral in the Abbasiya neighbourhood shattered its glass windows and left a scene of carnage in the main prayer hall.

State television quoted a security official saying a bomb made of TNT appeared to have been behind the explosion.

"Tell the sheikh, tell the priest, Egyptians' blood is not cheap," a crowd outside the church chanted, as ambulances lined up to evacuate the casualties.

The church "is deeply loved by many Coptic faithful in Cairo and it has a regular parish presence," said Bishop Angaelos, the General Bishop for the Coptic Church in Britain.

He said services had been held in the church on Sunday morning, while the adjacent St Mark's Cathedral was being renovated.

"It's an easier target because its entrance is outside the precincts" of the cathedral.

There was no claim of responsibility for any attack, but jihadists in Sinai have targeted Christians before, as well as Muslims they accuse of working with the government.

In April 2013, two people died in clashes outside St Mark's Cathedral, seat of Pope Tawadros II.

Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 90 million, have faced persecution and discrimination dating back to the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled by a popular uprising in 2011.

Dozens have been killed in recent years in sectarian attacks and clashes throughout Egypt.

With security forces as the main target, militants have repeatedly attacked policemen and soldiers since the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and unleashed a bloody crackdown on his followers.

Most of the attacks are conducted in the Sinai Peninsula by a branch of the Islamic State group, although militants have also targeted security forces and government officials in Cairo.

On Friday, six people died in a bombing next to a police checkpoint in the Talibiya area of Cairo shortly before Muslim weekly prayers when the streets are mostly empty.

Turning their sights on the Copts, Islamists in August 2013 attacked churches and homes of Copts in retaliation for the deadly dispersal by security forces of protest camps of Morsi supporters in two Cairo squares.

Enraged by the crackdown in which hundreds died, mobs of alleged Islamists lashed out at Copts in the Upper Egypt province of Minya, accusing them of backing the military.

More than 40 churches were attacked nationwide after the crackdown, with most attacks in Minya and Assiut, Human Rights Watch said at the time.

The Copts were also often targeted during Mubarak's rule.

In 2011, a suicide bomber killed 21 worshippers outside a church in the coastal city of Alexandria.</s>CAIRO -- A bombing at Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral killed 22 people and wounded another 35 on Sunday, according to Egyptian state television, in the second deadly attack to hit the Egyptian capital in two days.

Egypt's official MENA news agency said an assailant lobbed a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of St Mark's Cathedral, seat of Egypt's Orthodox Christian church and home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.

On Friday, six policemen were killed in a bomb attack in Cairo claimed by a group suspected by authorities of links to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attack, which bore the hallmarks of Islamic militants fighting the government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

As defense minister, el-Sissi led the July 2013 ouster of Mohammed Morsi, an elected Islamist president who hails from the Brotherhood.

Islamic militants launched a wave of attacks on security forces and Christians in response, as the government waged a sweeping crackdown on Morsi's supporters and other activists.</s>CAIRO — Egypt's official news agency says a blast at Cairo's main Coptic Christian cathedral has killed five people.

It says Sunday's blast at St. Mark's Cathedral in central Cairo wounded another 10 people.

St. Mark's Cathedral is the seat of Egypt's Orthodox Christian church and is home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.

The agency says a bomb was lobbed inside a chapel that is adjacent to the cathedral's outer wall.

On Friday, six policemen were killed in a bomb attack in Cairo claimed by a group suspected by authorities of links to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.</s>There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

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

Egyptian security forces are fighting an Islamist 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.</s>Egypt’s MENA news agency says a bomb was lobbed inside a chapel that is adjacent to the outer wall of St. Mark’s Cathedral in central Cairo killing 22 people and wounding 35. St. Mark’s is Cairo’s main Coptic cathedral and is the seat of Egypt’s Orthodox Christian church. It is home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II. It is too early to say if the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the act. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

A bombing at Egypt’s main Coptic Christian cathedral killed 22 people and wounded another 35 on Sunday, according to Egyptian state television, in the second deadly attack to hit the Egyptian capital in two days.

Egypt’s official MENA news agency said an assailant lobbed a bomb into a chapel close to the outer wall of St Mark’s Cathedral, seat of Egypt’s Orthodox Christian church and home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.

Could it be Brotherhood?

On Friday, six policemen were killed in a bomb attack in Cairo claimed by a group suspected by authorities of links to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday’s attack, which bore the hallmarks of Islamic militants fighting the government of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

As Defence Minister, Mr. el-Sissi led the July 2013 ouster of Mohammed Morsi, an elected Islamist president who hails from the Brotherhood.

Islamic militants launched a wave of attacks on security forces and Christians in response, as the government waged a sweeping crackdown on Morsi’s supporters and other activists.
A bombing in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo kills at least 25 people and injures at least 49 others.