A bombing at a chapel adjacent to Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral killed 25 people and wounded another 49 during Sunday Mass, one of the deadliest attacks carried out against the religious minority in recent memory and a grim reminder of Egypt's difficult struggle to restore security and stability after nearly six years of turmoil.
The attack came two days after a bomb elsewhere in Cairo killed six policemen, an assault claimed by a shadowy group that authorities say is linked to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. That group — called "Hasm," or "Decisiveness" — distanced itself from the attack in a statement issued Sunday night, saying it does not as a principle kill women, children, the elderly or worshippers.
The statement, at least in theory, leaves the extremist Islamic State group or like-minded independent militants as the chief suspects.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attack. However, Islamic militants have targeted Christians in the past, including a New Year's Day bombing at a church in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria in 2011 that killed at least 21 people. More recently, churches and Christian property in southern Egypt were targeted in the aftermath of the military's July 2013 ouster of an Islamist president. Those were blamed on Brotherhood supporters and ultraorthodox Salafi Muslims.
Shocking footage has emerged showing the moment a circus trainer was mauled by a lion during a live show in Egypt, leaving him with fatal injuries.
Trainer Islam Shaheen, 35, was filmed motioning at a lion with a stick as another lion climbed up a ladder during the performance in Alexandria.
At that moment, a third lion launches a savage attack on the trainer, rearing up and biting him in the neck as watching children scream in terror.
Panic ensues as lion trainer is savagely attacked in enclosure
Other trainers rushed to try and help Shaheen, lying helpless on the ground, by poking the lion with sticks.
As the music cut out abruptly, the only sound was the screams of the panicked crowd fleeing in fright.
Shaheen was rushed to Andalusian Salam hospital but died later from his injuries.
He had worked as a circus trainer for ten years according to his brother.
However he was caught by surprise by the lion that was new to the troupe from South Africa, Al-Arabiya reported.
Mohammed Mustafa, the circus spokesman, said the attack happened as the lion was in the mating season and so behaving erratically.
The lion has been withdrawn from any upcoming shows as a vet checks it over.
One of the lions was on the ladder, while the other two were standing below (the one closest to the trainer then attacks him)
In the shocking incident, the lion suddenly pounded on the trainer in front of an audience
Horrific footage showed the lion attacking the circus trainer during the live show in Egypt
The lion reared up and savaged the trainer as horrified children in the audience screamed
The shocking video comes a year after another female lion tamer in Egypt was mauled by one of her animals.
Footage showed Faten El-Helw prancing around the ring and waving to her adoring fans when the big cat suddenly jumped from its stool and lunged at her.
As the panicked audience jump to their feet screaming, the lion tamer was pinned to the ground and bitten in the shoulder.
Amazingly, El-Helw was able to get up and was led to safety while another circus worker coaxed the lions back into their cages.
She suffered a hairline fracture to her pelvis and was rushed to hospital, but survived.
With the wounded trainer lying on the floor, two other trainers tried to restrain the lion
The trainer, Islam Shaheen, was taken to hospital but he died later from his injuries
