Islamic State claims responsibility for attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt

Published May 27, 2017 12:01pm EST



The Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack in Egypt that left 29 Coptic Christians dead, the Associated Press said Saturday.


Gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Coptic Christians on their way to pray at a monastery. The attack took place 120 miles south of Cairo.

Twenty-nine people were killed, and at least 10 of the victims were children, according to reports.


In the wake of the attack, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordered military strikes in Libya.

President Trump condemned the attack, calling it a “merciless slaughter of Christians.”

“American stands with President Al Sisi and all the Egyptian people today, and always, as we fight to defeat this common enemy,” Trump said in a statement Friday.