Helwan church attacker still alive, undergoes surgery

CAIRO – 30 December 2017: Security source said on Saturday that the injured attacker of Helwan’s Church of Great Martyr Mina underwent successful surgery to remove bullets from his foot, MENA reported.

The source added that the attacker had suffered bullet wounds to the foot and bruises scattered all over his body.

A deadly attack targeted a Coptic church in a Cairo suburb on Friday, leaving 10 dead and nine injured.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Interior identified the attacker as Ibrahim Isma'il Isma'il Moustafa, 34, who is believed to be one of the most prominent terrorist elements.

Moustafa, identified by the Ministry as a dangerous fugitive, is believed to have taken part in the attack on the vehicle in the (microbus) Helwan police station in 2016; the attack left an officer dead.

The church attack took place on Friday morning when two armed men used firearms to target dozens of Christian worshippers attending a religious service, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior.


According to the statement, attackers opened fire at a household appliances shop, then headed to the church, where they attempted to trespass the church's perimeter security.


The security forces were able to capture one of the attackers after shooting him, managed to defuse an explosive belt that was fasten around the militant's chest, while the other one fled the scene, the Ministry said.