Cairo: Egypt has tightened security for churches nationwide as the country’s minority Christians celebrate Easter on Sunday, a week after deadly bombings hit two Coptic churches.
Thousands of security forces have been deployed around the churches in the run-up to Easter that marks the climax of the Christian Holy Week.
Explosives detection devices have been installed near the churches. Motorists are also ordered to park their cars at least 200 metres from churches for fear of car bombings.
Nearby commercial activities have been suspended too.
More surveillance cameras have been installed in the vicinity of churches as part of enhanced security.
Footage retrieved from cameras at the two churches attacked last week helped authorities to identify the suicide assailants.
Security checkpoints have also been set up on roads leading to major churches in the predominantly Muslim country.
Cars are denied access to a road outside the main Coptic cathedral in Cairo where Pope Tawadros II was due on Saturday night to lead a Mass on the eve of Easter.
Police have called on church-goers to cooperate with security personnel stationed outside places of worship by displaying the distinctive cross tattoo, usually etched on Copts’ hands at birth.
The faithful have also been asked to show their identification cards before they are allowed into churches.
The measures are aimed at preventing Islamist militants from sneaking into churches.
Last week, two suicide bombers targeted churches in Tanta, north of Cairo, and Alexandria, Egypt’s second big city.
In footage, aired on local television stations, one attacker was seen trying to enter the church in Alexandria, where the Coptic pope led a Mass, without passing through a metal detector at the gate.
The man was directed by a guard to pass through the metal detector. Seconds later, the bomber detonated his explosive belt, killing 17 people, including seven police.
A total of 45 people were killed in the twin bombings that prompted Egypt to impose a state of emergency for three months.
Daesh claimed responsibility for both attacks.
The Coptic Orthodox Church has cancelled Easter festivities out of respect for the victims and their families.
The Church said that celebrations would be confined to prayers.
The country’s Catholic and Angelic churches have also scaled down Easter celebrations in a sign of solidarity.
Copts make up the majority of Egypt’s Christians.
On Thursday, President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi, a Muslim leader widely popular with Egypt’s Christians, went to the Coptic cathedral in Cairo and offered condolences to Tawadros II.
Last week’s attacks were the latest against Christians in Egypt.
In December, a suicide bombing, also claimed by Daesh, targeted a chapel adjacent to the Cairo Cathedral killing 30 worshippers.
