Daesh claims attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt

By Fiola Fahmy

CAIRO

The Daesh terrorist group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a deadly attack that killed at least 29 Coptic Christians in southern Egypt, according to the group's Amaq news agency.

Gunmen in three pick-up trucks opened fire on a bus carrying a group of Coptic Christians to the Saint Samuel Monastery in Minya province, south of Cairo, on Friday before fleeing.

The interior ministry said 29 people were killed and scores injured in the attack.

Following the attack, Egyptian jets carried out airstrikes against what the authorities said "militant training camps" in neighboring Libya.

The airstrikes continued on Saturday, the Egyptian state television reported.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry told the United Nations in a statement Saturday that the airstrikes were in "self-defense".

Friday's attack came two days after the U.S. embassy in Cairo had warned its citizens in Egypt of possible attacks.

In April, Egyptian authorities declared a three-month state of emergency following a double attack claimed by Daesh on two churches in northern Egypt that left 45 Coptic Christian worshipers dead and scores more injured.