2017 — Egypt's Palm Sunday Church Bombings

On Palm Sunday, April 9, 2017, suicide bombers struck two Coptic Orthodox churches in Egypt. At St. George's Church in Tanta, 27 worshippers died during the crowded morning service. At St. Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria, 17 more were killed at the gates, including four police officers. ISIS claimed both attacks, carried out on one of Christianity's holiest days, against congregations gathered to worship.

President el-Sisi declared three days of national mourning and a three-month state of emergency. The twin bombings, in two cities on a single holy morning, left Egypt grieving worshippers who had come to church to mark Palm Sunday together.