The local press remains preoccupied with updates on investigations into the Alexandria bombing that targeted a Coptic church as worshippers came out of New Year’s Eve mass. The state-owned press highlights a reconstructed photo of the alleged perpetrator of last week’s terrorist attacks that left 25 people dead. Investigators are still trying to identify him after having collected pieces of his body, says daily state-run Al-Akhbar. Refuting earlier reports about an explosive-laden car, the paper goes on to quote the interior minister as affirming that the bombing was due to a handheld bomb.
Also concerning the investigations, the privately-owned daily Al-Dostour says that after examining footage taken by cameras placed inside the church, the police suspect that the perpetrator had detonated the bomb with a remote control from inside the church.
Meantime, Al-Akhbar leads with news about a march calling for national unity between Muslims and Copts that Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb is expected to lead on Thursday . The march is set to come a few hours before Copts head out to churches to celebrate Christmas Eve amid fears of another blast.
Similar calls for unity can be read on the front page of Al-Dostour. The paper leads with the headline, “Egypt tells its Copts on their holiday: You are not alone.” High officials and public figures are expected to attend tonight’s mass to express their support of the church, adds the paper.
On another front, the paper says that tens of Salafis were arrested in Sharqeyya, Gharbeyya and Daqahleyya provinces. In recent months, Salafis have played a major role in fomenting sectarian feelings as they staged a number of protests that accused the church of detaining two Christian women who had allegedly converted to Islam. In November, the same accusation was reiterated by al-Qaeda in Iraq, which vowed to attack Christians if the Coptic church failed to release the women.
On securing churches, Al-Dostour quotes police sources citing beefed-up security measures at churches nationwide. Western-trained explosive experts are expected to inspect cars entering and leaving churches, the paper adds.
The privately-owned daily al-Shorouk says that police are opposed to Muslims volunteering as human shields to secure tonight’s mass. The paper quotes an anonymous source as saying that “the police is capable of protecting churches and securing Christmas celebrations. And tight security measures have been enacted…” He goes on to say that such shields “could hinder the security plans that the interior ministry has developed.” Earlier this week, messages calling on Muslims to act as human shields to protect churches and attend Coptic Christmas mass were propagated on the social networking site Facebook. “It is nice that Muslims volunteer to confront terror,” says the same security source in Al-Shorouk, “but the people’s role should be restricted to cooperating with police and providing information on the perpetrators…”
The liberal opposition daily Al-Wafd blames the government for recent events. The paper leads with the following headline: “Egypt’s security is absent amid the sedition and betrayal.” “The incident happened…The lesson is over… And it is time for punishment… Egypt is bleeding… And officials have to pay the price… All state institutions should act wisely and promptly to stop the bloodshed and extinguish the fire of outrage,” reads the paper. Many experts attribute the resurgent violence to economic frustration in addition to the state’s political oppression and failure to protect its citizens.
Al-Wafd also emphasizes the arrest of eight Muslim activists who participated in Coptic protests earlier this week. Defendants include university students and members of the youth-based 6 April opposition movement. On its front page, Al-Wafd says that their trial will begin today by listing the charges brought against them. Young activists are accused of attacking policemen, destroying ten police cars and terrifying bystanders, says the paper. The defendants denied the charges and affirmed that they only engaged in a peaceful protest denouncing Alexandria blasts, according to Al-Wafd.
The week witnessed dozens of Coptic protests, some of which culminated in damages and injuries.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party
Youm7: Weekly, privately owned
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
