Suicide bomber rushed to church, blew himself up after seconds

The suicide bomber behind El Boutroseya Church attack entered the church quickly ahead of prayers, drawing suspicion of one of the church security men, Investigations by Egypt's state security prosecution found on Monday.

The security man followed the suicide bomber to the backdoor of the prayer hall dedicated to women, investigations said, adding that in less than 10 seconds the terrorist blew himself up.

Prosecutor General Nabil Sadek reviewed with senior counselors the results of the investigation so far.

Initial investigations and inspection by state security prosecution-affiliate search team as well as downloading tapes of surveillance cameras showed that a youth in his twenties wearing a blue jeans, gray shirt and a black jacket entered the church.

The features of the suicide bomber were clear in the video and his jacket seemed to be concealing something underneath.

After inspecting the 25 bodies of the victims, the general prosecution team found a body belonging to the church security man and another to the suicide bomber whose body was blown to pieces.

Forensic doctors and the prosecution team joined hands to gather the pieces until revealing his features.

No surveillance cameras were installed at the prayer hall where the blast took place, prosecution said, pointing out that there are only cameras outside the church. 

On Sunday, 25 people were killed and 49 others injured when a bomb went off inside El Boutroseya Church adjacent St. Peter & St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo’s Abbassiya district. 

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced earlier Monday that a 22-year-old suicide bomber blew himself up inside the Church.

Source: MENA