Christians on High Alert Amid Bomb Threats

Egyptian Christian children gather round the country’s flag in a group activity. -- Photo: World Watch Monitor
Egyptian Christian children gather round
the country's flag in a group activity.
Photo: World Watch Monitor

Intelligence reports have raised concerns of a fresh wave of violence specifically targeting believers travelling to summer camps by bus. The authorities say militants are planning suicide bomb attacks on Christians, as well as army and police personnel. In light of this news, officials have asked church leaders to cancel any camps and conferences held outside of church buildings.

During this time of year, hundreds of thousands attend such events. Church trips and conferences represent popular summer activities that offer times of spiritual revival in Egyptian communities. Events of this nature are anticipated by many -- especially children -- all year and have never been halted in the past.

A few days after the nation's Christian leaders decided to put a hold on their outdoor activities, a guard in Alexandria was attacked by someone he had prevented from entering a church building. On July 15th, the guard, Mina Fouad Zakhary, stopped a young man at the gateway of Saint Mark and Saint Peter Church, asking him why he wanted to go in. The young man then took out a razor blade and cut the guard's neck. Other security officers nearby intervened and apprehended the attacker. Thankfully, the injured guard survived the attack.

The national alert was announced six weeks after a church group travelling to Saint Samuel Monastery in Minya was ambushed by terrorists of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) on May 26th. A total of 30 believers were killed in the attack, including women and children. Further information on this incident is available here.

As our Christian brothers and sisters in Egypt face these heightened threats, may they remain steadfast in their faith -- casting all their cares upon the Lord and trusting explicitly in Him – and thus fully experience His perfect peace (Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 26:3). Pray for the healing of the church guard, Mina, who was injured during the recent attack in Alexandria; and that all those in both governmental and spiritual authority will be granted wisdom as they continue in their stance against militarism. Ask the Lord to provide His people in Egypt new and innovative ways to receive discipleship and fellowship so they can be assured of safety amid threats of attack.

  • Country Information

    Population
    109,546,720 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Egyptian (99.7), other (0.3)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (90), Christianity (10)

    Leader
    President Abdelfattah Said El-Sisi (2014)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Egypt

    Pray on behalf of those who are facing economic and social challenges because of their Christian faith. Ask the Lord to provide for their spiritual and practical needs – further strengthening and emboldening them so they can effectively share the message of the Gospel with others in their communities. May the hearts of those who hear it be open and receptive to the wonderful truths contained in God’s Word.

Egypt News

  • Christian Convert Charged with Terrorism
    Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq is casually leaning to the side and smiling.
    Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq
    Photo: CSW

    On July 22nd, Egyptian authorities formally charged Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq (a convert from Islam to Christianity) with joining a terrorist organization, stirring unrest and spreading false information. Since converting to the Christian faith in 2016 and joining the Russian Orthodox Church, Saeid experienced persistent rejection from his family and community, as well as intimidation from local police. Despite these challenges, he regularly shared his newfound faith with those around him.

  • Prisoners Released After Years of Detention
    Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo
    Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo
    Photo: ADF International

    Originally from Yemen, Abdulbaqi Saeed Abdo was forced to flee to Egypt in 2014 after being subjected to violent attacks because of his conversion to Christianity. Then, in 2021, Abdulbaqi was arrested by Egyptian officials following an interview he did for a Christian television program addressing the topic of persecution in Yemen. Additionally, he was identified as a member of a Facebook group for those who had converted from Islam to Christianity. Nour Gerges, an Egyptian Coptic believer who also participated in the same Facebook group, was arrested at the same time.

  • Three Christians Hospitalized After Stabbing
    Three crosses on Coptic steeples are silhouetted against the sun on the horizon.
    Domes of a Coptic Church building in Egypt.
    Photo: Flickr / Andrew A. Shenouda (cc)

    Three Christian men were hospitalized after being brutally attacked on November 5th in Ashruba, a village located within the Minya province of Upper Egypt. This is only the latest incident to occur amid a recent surge of sectarian violence throughout the region.

  • Christian Homes and Businesses Burned
    A water truck is working to douse a fire.
      

    Late into the evening of April 23rd, Islamic militants set fire to several homes and shops owned by Coptic Orthodox Christians in the village of Al-Fawakher, which is located in Egypt's southern Minya province. Although the attackers attempted to prevent the occupants from leaving their burning homes, thankfully there were no reported fatalities.