Egypt: Islamic State leader threatens Christians once again

Event

In a one page interview published in the Islamic State’s (IS) Al-Naba newspaper on Thursday, May 4, an IS leader called for Muslims in Egypt to stay away from Christian gatherings and sites (e.g. churches, meeting centers, etc.), as well as government, military, and police facilities, all of which IS considers “legitimate targets” for attack.

Context

The IS-affiliated group “Sinai Province” regularly strikes Egyptian army patrols with IEDs and sniper fire, and periodically mounts larger attacks on security checkpoints. The group has recently stepped up attacks against civilian targets across the country, especially Egyptian Copts in its war against Christians. On April 9, two bombing were perpetrated at Christian churches in Alexandria and Tanta, killing 49 people. The bombings constituted the largest-ever mass-casualty attack by the group outside the Sinai Peninsula, and followed on the tails of the December 2016 bombing of El Botroseya chapel in Cairo that killed 25 people.

Advice

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, individuals throughout Egypt should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). All travel to northern Sinai is advised against; the authorities maintain a media blackout and special security zones in the region due to the ongoing terrorist campaign of Sinai Province.