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Updated: Gunmen open fire at Coptic Christian church near Cairo, 9 Dead
[10News] Nine people have been killed after gunmen opened fire at a Coptic Christian church near the Egyptian capital of Cairo, the Health Ministry told CNN.

One of the attackers was also killed by Egyptian security forces, said ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed.

The assault was carried out at the St. Mina Coptic church in Helwan, a district on the southern edge of the Egyptian capital. It was not immediately clear who the attackers were or how many were involved.

Among the nine killed were eight Christians and a police officer, who was Muslim.

Five others have been injured, including two in critical condition, according to the Health Ministry.

A security cordon has been put up at the scene and senior officials have arrived at the site. Images from the scene show blood stains on the outside of the building.
Update from Al Ahram at 11:30 a.m. ET (marked as their third update since the story broke, so there may be future updates at this link):
Two unidentified gunmen killed nine people as they opened fire early Friday on a church south of Cairo, ahead of Coptic Christian celebrations next week, Egypt's state TV and health ministry said.

Security forces shot dead one of the assailants in an exchange of fire outside the church of Mar Mina in Helwan district while the other assailant has been captured, state TV and state news agency MENA said.

Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told state television that nine people — including a Muslim and eight Christians — had been killed, in addition to the gunman, and five injured. Those wounded include two women in critical condition, he added.

State TV aired footage of the assailant's body, showing a bearded man wearing an explosive vest lying on the ground as crowds gathered.

The interior ministry said in a statement in the afternoon that it arrested an attacker on a motorcycle who attempted to drive through security forces outside the church armed with a machinegun, ammunition and a bomb that he intended to detonate in the church.

The ministry said he killed two people when he opened fire on a shop before heading to the church where he shot dead seven people, including a policeman.

The arrested attacker is an active terrorist who has carried out a number of terrorist attacks targeting police and civilians, the statement added.
Posted by: Frank G 2017-12-29
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=504657