This comes as he draws domestic and international pressure for what he calls his brute force response to terror in the northern Sinai.

After bombing the Coptic cathedral in Cairo last December, killing 29 people , so-called Islamic State called Coptic Christians their favourite prey.

On Palm Sunday, the terrorists struck churches in Tanta and Alexandria, leaving 45 dead.

Although the terrorists have moved on to attacking Sufi Muslim mosques, the copts, who make up between 10 and 15 percent of Egypt’s population, say they are poorly protected by the government of former military strongman Abdel Fatah El Sisi.

He’s determined to keep them safe this Christmas and stop IS terrorists leaking out of the remote Sinai into Egypt’s cities.

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No group has immediately claimed responsibility for this particularly brazen drive-by shooting.

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The attack in Nasr City is a break from the usual terror operations in the restive northern part of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Militants have occasionally struck farther south and also on the mainland — such as in last month’s massive suicide bombings in Tanta and in Alexandria. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group.

This latest drive-by attack comes two days after Pope Francis wrapped up a historic visit to Egypt during which security was exceptionally tight, with police swarming Cairo’s streets.

The post Brazen drive-by attack in Cairo leaves three policemen dead appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Coordinated attacks on churches in two cities have left at least 44 people dead and more than 100 injured.

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So-called Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Palm Sunday bombings of churches in Tanta and Alexandria.

It’s warned of more attacks against the Christians who make up a tenth of Egypt’s 90-million people.

The emergency allows authorities to make arrests without warrants and search people’s homes. It requires parliamentary approval.

President Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi warns that the war against the jihadists will be long and painful.

He’s ordered the deployment of the military across the country to protect vital and important infrastructure.

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