Egypt: Increased terrorist risk during Easter period (April 1-8)

Event

There is an increased risk of terrorism during the Orthodox Easter Holy Week, which will run from April 1 (Palm Sunday) to April 8 (Easter Sunday). The risk of attacks targeting minority Christians is particularly elevated. An increased security presence is likely.

Context

The Christian community has been targeted in a number of violent attacks in Egypt in recent years, including coordinated attacks on churches in Alexandria and Tanta that killed 45 people and injured more than one hundred during the 2017 Easter period. The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State (IS). Coptic Christians represent approximately 10 to 15 percent of Egypt's population and are the largest Christian community in the Middle East.

The Sinai Peninsula has been the epicenter of frequent attacks by IS-affiliated militants since 2013 - usually targeting security forces or Christians. An ongoing military operation, dubbed "Sinai 2018" aims to eradicate suspected militant and criminal cells in the Sinai Peninsula, as well as reinforce state control along the country's borders. Egypt has been under a state of emergency since the 2017 Palm Sunday attacks.

Advice

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, especially during the Easter holiday season, 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 (e.g. places of worship, transportation hubs, government buildings, embassies, international organizations, markets, areas frequented by foreigners, festivals, etc.). Some governments advise their nationals against travel to the Sinai region, where the authorities maintain a media blackout and special security zones due to the persistent terrorist threat.