Egypt: Four Killed in Attack on Wedding in Giza

Religion Today | Updated: Oct 23, 2013

Egypt: Four Killed in Attack on Wedding in Giza

Four people, including an 8-year-old girl, died after masked gunmen opened fire on a wedding in Giza on the evening of October 20, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports. As wedding guests were leaving the Coptic Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in Warraq al-Hadar, Giza, a car and a motorcycle pulled up and a masked gunman on the motorcycle opened fire with an automatic weapon. At least 15 bullets were fired indiscriminately before the attackers drove away. Two guests were killed during the attack, with two more dying later from gunshot wounds. The deceased are 8-year-old Mariam Ashraf, 12-year-old Miriam Nabil, 45-year-old Samir Fahmy and 56-year-old Camilia Attiya, the mother of the groom. CSW's sources confirm that 18 others were injured and that all of the deceased were Christians. According to Father Thomas Daoud Ibrahim, priest of the Warraq church, three wedding services had been taking place at the time of the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, it comes after a wave of violence by Muslim Brotherhood supporters targeting the Coptic community, which they claim played a primary role in the removal of former President Morsi. Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of CSW, said: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of those killed in this brutal attack, and we pray for speedy recoveries for those who were injured. While the expressions of condolences from all sectors of Egyptian society are encouraging, we continue to urge adequate and timely protection for the Coptic community and Coptic gatherings in order to prevent such tragedies from occurring. Moreover, the culture of hate speech and impunity in which such attacks occur must also be addressed in order to ensure the emergence of a society in which all Egyptians can flourish, regardless of their religion or political affiliation."



Egypt: Four Killed in Attack on Wedding in Giza