Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church says a priest has been killed in a knife attack in a poor Cairo district, the latest deadly assault on members of the country’s Christian minority.
The church says the attack took place on Thursday. The priest was identified in the media as Fr Samaan Shehata.
Security officials say the attacker struck the priest’s head with a cleaver and fled the scene, but was later arrested. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media.
The motive was not immediately known.
Bishop Angaelos, Britain’s Coptic Orthodox bishop, said Fr Shehata, a priest from the Upper Egypt region, had been visiting his family in Cairo and collecting aid for the needy in his parish. He had left his mobile phone at a church and was walking back to reclaim it.
Bishop Angaelos said:“Today is a day that brings anger and I am not apologetic for that anger" https://t.co/KlqTL00Y5Z #copts #death #egypt
— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) October 13, 2017