Deadly Blast Outside Coptic Church in Alexandria, Egypt

Egyptian riot police stand guard in the aftermath of bomb blasts outside a Coptic Church in Alexandria where 10 people have been reportedly killed. During 2010 there have been a rise in incidents involving Christians and Muslims.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos

Deadly blast outside Egypt church

At least ten people killed in an attack on a Christian church in Alexandria in northern Egypt

Last Modified: 01 Jan 2011 01:24 GMT

Coptic Christians burned a car during clashes with police and Muslims following the church bombing

At least 10 people have been killed and 24 injured in an attack on a Christian church in Alexandria in northern Egypt.

A car parked outside the church in the Sidi Bechr district detonated shortly after the Coptic Christian midnight mass on New Year's Day, according to witnesses and police sources.

Police said they did not know exactly what caused the explosion but are currently investigating the scene.

After the bombing, Christians pouring out of the church clashed with security forces who had arrived on the scene, as well as with Muslims who had gathered.

Some of those involved in the fighting were reportedly injured, and police used teargas to disperse the crowd.

The attack comes after Egypt's interior ministry promised it would increase security around Christian sites following threats on Egyptian Christians by Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin reported from Cairo.

The bombing also comes a year after another attack on Coptic Christians - a drive-by shooting in the town of Nag Hammadi that left six Christians and one Muslim dead.

Source: Al Jazeera