By: Yamillet Brizuela
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
MINYA, Egypt – The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (“ISIL”) on Saturday, May 27 claimed responsibility for the attack on buses transporting Coptic Christians in Egypt that occurred earlier. These Coptic Christian bus passengers were on their way to volunteer at the monastery of Saint Samuel the Confessor. This attack killed 29 men and children and wounded at least another 25.
The eyewitnesses described that the attack began with gunmen shooting the windows of the buses. After firing at the windows, the gunmen then boarded the buses, shooting and killing all the men on on board. The gunmen then shot at the feet of the women and children. Some children were killed, and the gunmen took all the gold the women were wearing.
The eyewitnesses also made a note that one of the gunmen had a camera, which means the gunmen may release footage of the attack in the future.
On Friday, May 26, Egyptian fighter jets carried out six air strikes directed at camps in Libya which Cairo says have been training militants behind the Egypt attack.
Following the Minya shooting and Egypt’s counterattack, President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, said that Egypt would not hesitate to carry out further strikes against camps that trained people to carry out operations against Egypt.
For more information, please see:
AlJazeera- Egypt Launches Strikes Libya After Minya Attack – 27 May 2017
New York Times – Gunmen in Egypt Force Christian Pilgrims from Buses and Kill 28 – 26 May 2017
Reuters- Egypt air raids on Libya after Christians Killed- 27 May 2017
Reuters- Egypt Says Air Strikes Destroy Militant Camps after Attack on Christians- 27 May 2017
Reuters- Grief, Rage in Egyptian Church after Copts attacked by Gunmen- 27 May 2017
U.S. News & World Report- Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Egypt Attack – 27 May 2017
