Interfaith outreach in Egypt: 26 Molotov cocktails found next to a church

Robert Spencer



Keep quiet about this! “Talk about extreme, militant Islamists and the atrocities that they have perpetrated globally might undercut the positive achievements that we Catholics have attained in our inter-religious dialogue with devout Muslims.” — Robert McManus, Roman Catholic Bishop of Worcester, Massachusetts, February 8, 2013. And no, it’s not cocktail hour.
“Twenty-Six Molotov Cocktail Bombs Discovered Next to A Church in Egypt,” by Corey Bailey for International Christian Concern, January 27 (thanks to Pamela Geller):

1/27/2014 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern)—The first month of 2014 has seen numerous “attacks” on churches and Christians in Egypt. Witnesses and sources in Egypt reported to International Christian Concern (ICC), that despite the fact the following attacks were thwarted, they added to the fear Christians in Egypt face on a regular basis.
On Friday, January 3, supporters of Muslim Brotherhood attacked an Evangelical Church in the Gesr El Suez area of Cairo. The mob gathered in front of the church on Ahmed Esmat Street and began to “pelt stones on the church and change slogans against Christians,” Mina Beshay, a Christian in this area, told ICC. Reports indicate that there was no security for the church building and that the attackers operated with impunity.
On Sunday, January 5, security forces in Suez disrupted a terrorist cell named, “Supporters of Jerusalem.” They arrested the members when they discovered a plot to attack a nearby church on the nigh of their Christmas celebrations. Christmas among many Christians in Egypt is celebrated on January 7.

On Monday evening, January 6, a bomb was found in the bathroom of the Three Saints Church in Beni Suef city. Police diffused the bomb, initially discovered by a church member. A few days later, on January 10, security forces “arrested a bearded person in possession of four hand grenades in a handbag next to the Church of two Saints,” Wissa Fawzy, a Christian in Alexandria told ICC.
On Friday, January 24, The civil defense forces and civil protection forces in Assiut Governorate found explosives inside a car parked behind the church of AL Malak. The church, which is located in AL Numies street,in Assiut city, was targeted, “to be exploded,” sources told ICC.
On Saturday, January 25, Security forces in Ismailia Security directorate found 26 Molotov Cocktails inside a bag next to the church of St. Bishoy in the area of Sheikh Zayed in Ismailia city. Witnesses say that the person in possession of the bag of explosives was sitting in a car next to the church and “he fled when he saw the policemen.”
Christians, a religious minority in Egypt, have lived in constant fear of attack. Christians have been kidnapped and their Churches bombed or raided on a regular basis.