Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Egypt blames Gaza militants for church bomb
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Egypt blames Gaza militants for church bomb
Reuters - Monday, January 24
Send
IM Story
Print
By Marwa Awad
CAIRO - Egypt Sunday accused a Palestinian militant group, the Army of Islam, of carrying out a deadly New Year's Day church bombing with the help of a local accomplice.
Twenty-three people were killed in the blast outside a church in Alexandria, which prompted protests by Christians that the state had not done enough to protect them.
"If elements of the Palestinian Army of Islam, linked to al Qaeda, thought they had hidden behind elements that were recruited, we have decisive proof of their heinous involvement in planning and carrying out such a villainous terrorist act," Interior Minister Habib el-Adli said in a speech.
A spokesman for the Army of Islam, which considers al Qaeda's leaders as spiritual mentors, told Reuters in Gaza that the group "has no connection to the church attack in Egypt, though we praise those who did it."
The Islamist group Hamas, which controls Gaza, called on Egypt to share its evidence, saying that Israel was the only target of Palestinian armed groups.
In a statement, the Egyptian interior ministry said the Army of Islam had "relied on an Egyptian element" in planning the attack, and named the alleged accomplice.
"Ahmed Lotfi Ibrahim Mohammed was arrested and confessed he was tasked in 2010 to monitor Christian and Jewish places of worship and that he sent pictures of the Qideseen church in Alexandria to the Army of Islam" the ministry said.
It said the 26-year-old had confessed he had visited Gaza several times and was involved in planning the attack.
SECTARIAN TENSION
Egyptian officials had previously suggested that al Qaeda had a hand in the blast that ripped through a crowd outside the church. An Iraq-based al Qaeda group had called before the bombing for attacks on Egypt's Coptic Christians, who make up one tenth of the population.
The bomber died in the attack, which wounded 97 people.
Hamas rejected the idea of links between al Qaeda and Gaza militants and demanded Egypt provide evidence to back its claim.
"We confirm that there is no presence of the al Qaeda organisation in the Gaza Strip and that all Palestinian factions and groups point their rifles against the Zionist enemy and only against the Zionist enemy," Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nono said.
Hamas instead blamed Israel's foreign intelligence service Mossad for the Alexandria attack, without providing evidence.
President Hosni Mubarak, in an address broadcast on state TV, praised the police for their efforts to identify those responsible and said the attackers had sought to sow discord between Egyptian Copts and Muslims.
Sectarian tensions often flare in Egypt over issues such as building churches, religious conversions or romantic relationships between members of both faiths.
"We will not allow terrorism to shake our stability and horrify our people or attack the unity of Muslims and Copts," Mubarak said. "Egypt's security and stability are targeted."
Egyptian state security had pointed to possible foreign involvement and had investigated several Palestinians who it perceived as threats.
The Army of Islam played a part in a cross-border attack in 2006 in the Gaza Strip in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted. The group later cut relations with the Hamas government in Gaza and has clashed with it.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Tunisian protesters vow to oust interim government AFP - Monday, January 24
Iran hangs two activists held in 2009 poll unrest AFP - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
Legal net tightens around Haitian ex-strongman AFP - 1 hour 49 minutes ago
UK-World Summary Reuters - 1 hour 53 minutes ago
Uncertainty lingers over Afghan parliament AFP - 2 hours 8 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
WikiLeaks founder named 'un-Australian of the Year'
Memories take hold better during sleep: study
Elites to tackle 'fundamentally changed' world at Davos
The Arctic: a new frontier for oil, gas firms
Weighty mission for scientists: redefine the kilo
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Bank of America posts heavy losses
'Inconclusive' Iran nuclear talks enter final day
US expert panel gives nod to Alzheimer's scan
Migraines don't damage brain: study
More than 40 injured in Algeria clashes
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 24 January 2011 UK phone-hacking 'targeted ex-premier Brown'
Car bombs around Baghdad kill 6, wound 29
|
Ireland's Green party pulls out of coalition govt
US-TECH Summary
Greece ready to issue diaspora bond: minister
Yemen activists arrested, students protest
|
Cellcom and Iway launch Internet system for cars
President of crisis-hit Portugal re-elected
|
Gbagbo camp says futile to cut off Ivory Coast economy
|
Bono sings, fond memories flow at Shriver funeral
Ahmadinejad hopes for more talks with world powers
|
Global Weather-Celsius
'Bug Mac' and lovely 'grub': food of the future
Natalie Portman romantic comedy leads box office
|
Leaks show Palestinians giving much ground to Israel
Colombian president in France to promote region
Israel inquiry clears government, navy in Gaza ship raid
US-TECH Summary
The Arctic: a new frontier for oil, gas firms
WikiLeaks founder named 'un-Australian of the Year'
Uncertainty lingers over Afghan parliament
Hon Hai sues rival over patent rights infringement
Leaks show Palestinians giving much ground to Israel
|
Exxon to invest millions in German gas exploration: report
Philips quarterly net profit seen more than doubling
Memories take hold better during sleep: study
South Korea to soon propose nuclear talks with North
|
Hezbollah says will seek "partnership government"
Elites to tackle 'fundamentally changed' world at Davos
Swiss whistleblower detained: report
Mexico arrests hitmen blamed for Acapulco slayings
|
BlackBerry program may help RIM defend its turf
Egypt blames Gaza militants for church bomb
Weighty mission for scientists: redefine the kilo
Japan PM renews calls for fiscal reform talks
|
Iran launches cyber crime unit: police
Wozniacki sorry for kangaroo story
Ahmadinejad hopes for more talks with world powers
Car bombs around Baghdad kill 6, wound 29
Magnitude quake 6.1 hits Tajikistan: USGS
|
Egypt Islamists lukewarm on calls for mass protest
Rural poor rally in Tunis, seeking change
|
Iran open to more nuclear talks, says president
Afghan parliament deal still tentative
Gbagbo camp says futile to cut off Ivory Coast economy
|
Pet bunnies in peril as Year of the Rabbit nears
Ukrainian unknown stuns Soderling at tennis Open
Iranians unite in grief at service for shah's son
Kvitova reaches Australian tennis quarters
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Aga Khan feared he could bring down racing empire
Audiences great at picking next big music hits
BlackBerry program may help RIM defend its turf
|
Half of new Emily Carr work found in Canada
Google to give outgoing CEO Schmidt $100 million
|
'Amazing' Australian floodwaters enter new towns
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Hon Hai sues rival over patent rights infringement
|
Misguided experiment yields absorbing documentary
N. Korean leader meets Egypt telecoms chief
Philips quarterly net profit seen more than doubling
|
Japan's Kirin, China Resources to tie up: report
"Pariah" offers fresh take on lesbian teen genre
Defections rock Solomons government
BRIEF-Moody's comments: New Zealand limit on covered bonds
Stunning debut lifts the veil on life in Iran
Li Na says tennis career shaped by father's death
Fitness guru Jack LaLanne dies at 96 in California
Belated justice for Taiwanese war hero
Seoul shares open lower, LG Display slips
"Warriors" director tackles Saddam Hussein's son
Seoul shares rise 0.6 pct lifted by refiners, techs
Champion grunter doesn't disturb Li
Financial crisis documentary debuts at Sundance
Japan to cull 410,000 chickens to fight bird flu
China could act on currency this year: Kissinger
Fitness guru Jack LaLanne dies at 96 in California
|
Indonesian soldiers jailed for Papua torture
Sundance familiar territory for Elizabeth Banks
|
Warriors director tackles Saddam Hussein's son
|
Pariah offers fresh take on lesbian teen genre
|
Ad agencies spurn innovative documentary
|
Anton Yelchin Crazy about improv movie
|
Stunning debut lifts the veil on life in Iran
|
Misguided experiment yields absorbing documentary
|
New airline IAG worth £6.1 bln on market debut
Suicide bomber kills 31 at Russia's biggest airport
|
Pope warns of alienation risk in social networks
Abbas denies making secret offers to Israel
Drug may guard against lung cancer death
Iran hangs two activists held in post-vote demos
Philips looks East as weak TV sales hit profit
Hezbollah-backed Mikati set to lead Lebanon government
|
Karzai to open Afghan parliament Wednesday
App tells JFK's story 50 years after inauguration
NATO: 2 Taliban leaders killed in east Afghanistan
Iran hangs two for involvement in vote unrest: report
|
Apple's iPad enters Singapore classrooms
Cuba seeks long jail terms for mental asylum deaths
|
Irish parties squabble over election date
|
Afghan Supreme Court to rule on parliament opening
|
Trouble brews over Indian party plan to hoist flag in Kashmir
|
Aniston and Kutcher vie for Hollywood's worst awards
China province faces worst drought in a century
Chinese man strips to protest
Thai PM wants controversial signboard removed from border area
Asean adopts new 5-year tourism dev't plan
Tax inspectors target top Bollywood stars
Groupon CEO says exploring IPO; no decision
|
Pattaya beach could erode away 'within five years'
Kevin Smith faces protests as he unleashes "Indie 2.0"
Australia: 'No warning' from refugee boat
Facebook sees advertising prospects beyond games
|
Aniston and Kutcher vie for Hollywood's worst awards
Activist says N. Korea executed two over leaflets
Huawei sues Motorola over possible infringement
|
App tells JFK's story 50 years after inauguration
|
Pope warns of alienation risk in social networks
|
WikiLeaks founder Assange slams Swiss banker arrest
|
Andy Murray motors into Australia Open quarters
Hungary MOL says suspends Pakistan oil and gas well
BBC shrinks online unit to cut costs and refocus
|
Thai police to deport 91 Rohingya to Myanmar
Electronic giving increasing for church collections
|
Honda results to be hit by unit's improper trades
Japan telecom firm KDDI sees earnings slip
Toyota beats GM to end 2010 as biggest automaker
Major developer sees no property bubble in China
Asia Naphtha-Formosa, LG Chem buy more than 200,000T for March
N.Korean leader meets Egyptian telecom tycoon
Japan PM pushes for reform as society ages
Bangladesh orders probe into market slump
Music mood muted despite Lady Gaga, more big albums
|
Aniston and Kutcher vie for Hollywood's worst awards
|
BBC shrinks online unit to cut costs and refocus
|
Fashion icon Rafa revels in added exposure
|
Kevin Smith faces protests as he unleashes Indie 2.0
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights