Church attacker participated in similar attacks: Interior Min

CAIRO – 29 December 2017: One of the two militants involved in the terrorist attack that hit the Church of Great Martyr Mina in Helwan had participated in other similar terrorist attacks and was a fugitive wanted by the Ministry of Interior, Minister of Interior announced Friday in a statement.

According to the statement, the attacker, named Ibrahim Isma'il Isma'il Moustafa, is one of the most prominent terrorist elements, fugitive and dangerous, who claimed the elements of the attack on the vehicle (microbus) Helwan police station in 2016 (already seized a number of them) and resulted in the death of one of the officers and the number of (7) police (the subject of case No. 513/2016 "Attended the security of the Supreme State).

The sources added that the militant killed during his attempt to storm the church was one of the most dangerous terrorists and had escaped after being arrested among the “Helwan Brigade” defendants.

Several army and police personnel were reported to have been killed in a number of attacks carried out with the participation of the militant.

Church of Great Martyr Mina’s priest, named David, told Egypt Today that the number of worshipers inside the church during the attack exceeded one hundred persons, adding that as soon as they heard about the attack, they closed the church’s door to prevent anyone from getting hurt.

He confirmed that the number of militants was two and that they were armed.

On Friday morning, two gun-wielding militants opened fire at the Church of Great Martyr Mina in Helwan during a drive-by shooting. One of the militants was fatally shot by the police guarding the church, while the second one managed to escape.

According to the Ministry of Health, 10 citizens were killed and five others were injured and transferred to a nearby hospital for further treatment.