An explosion near Cairo`s Coptic cathedral has killed at least 20 people and wounded 35 others, Egyptian officials say, according to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
Egypt`s official MENA news agency reported that the December 11 blast was caused by a bomb thrown by an assailant into St. Peter`s church, next to St. Mark`s Cathedral, RFE/RL wrote.
St. Mark`s is the seat of Egypt`s Orthodox church and the home of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.
Egypt`s Coptic Christians make up some 10% of the country`s population.
The explosion comes after a bomb attack killed six police officers at a checkpoint in Cairo on December 9.
A militant group called Hasm, suspected by authorities of links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Egypt`s security forces are fighting an Islamist insurgency that has launched deadly attacks in Cairo and other cities.
