Monday, January 03, 2011

The Alexandria Church Bombing: The Plot Thickens

On New Year’s Eve a car bomb exploded outside a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt. 21 people were killed, and more than 100 were injured. All of the dead were Christians, as were all but a few of the injured.

President Hosni Mubarak was quick to condemn the “attack against Muslims and Christians”, a characterization of the event that was echoed by President Obama. The sophistication and scope of the attack were downplayed, with the Egyptian government insisting that a lone suicide bomber was responsible, rather than a remotely-detonated car bomb. When the Pope condemned the attack, the imam of Al-Azhar University accused him of interfering in Egypt’s internal affairs.

Today brought two new developments: evidence that there was careful advanced co-ordination for the blast, and reports by witnesses that the security detachment guarding the church abruptly departed about an hour before the bomb exploded.

Here’s the report from AINA. (the out-links are in the original article). A composite video of the aftermath of the explosion follows the AINA article:

Egyptian Security Guards Withdrew One Hour Before Church Blast, Say Eyewitnesses

by Mary Abdelmassih

(AINA) — The car explosion that went off in front of Saints Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria killed 21 and injured 96 parishioners who were attending a New Year’s Eve Mass. According to church officials and eyewitnesses, there are many more victims that are still unidentified and whose body parts were strewn all over the street outside the church. The body parts were covered with newspapers until they were brought inside the church after some Muslims started stepping on them and chanting Jihadi chants (video showing dead bodies and limbs covered with newspapers in the street).

According to eyewitnesses, a green Skoda car pull up outside the church shortly after midnight. Two men got out , one of them talked shortly on his mobile phone, and the explosion occurred almost immediately after they left the scene. On the back of the Skoda was a sticker with the words “the rest is coming” (video of car explosion and Muslims shouting “Allah Akbar”).

It was reported that the bomb, locally made, had 100KG of explosives in addition to having nails, glass and iron balls inside. The strength of it not only caused glass panes to be shattered in all the neighborhood, but also made body parts fly into the building’s fourth floor, and to the mosque facing the church.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but officials hastily blamed either Al-Qaida or the Israeli Mousad of being behind the blast, but none of them mentioned the Egyptian state security which is viewed by Copts as the real culprit.

To clear his security forces of negligence, the Minister of Interior said that the blast was an “individual” case, caused by a single suicide terrorist detonating his vest, and has nothing to do with an exploding car. The governor of Alexandria claimed the attack as being aimed at Muslims and Christians alike.

After the blast, traumatized Copts were angered by chants of “Allah Akbar” from Muslims and began hurling stones at the mosque. Immediately security forces which were absent during the car blast and the ensuing events, appeared and starting shooting tear gas at the Copts, and they in turn hurled stones at them, said an eyewitness. Fifteen Copts were rounded up from their homes by the authorities.

After Friday prayers On December 31 and in front of Al Kayed Gohar Mosque in Alexandria, Salafi Muslims held the 17th in the series of demonstrations against the Coptic Church and its Pope Shenouda, repeating the Iraqi Al-Qaeda threats against Egypt’s Coptic Church, demanding the release of the two priests’ wives, Wafaa Constatine and Camilia Shehata, whom they claim had converted to Islam but were being held against their will by the church in monasteries (AINA 11-12-2010).

Following the massacre of the congregation at Our Lady of Deliverance Church in Baghdad on October 31 2010, Al-Qaida threatened the Coptic Church and demanded the release of Muslim women held by the church, else Christians everywhere would be their target. As a result Egyptian authorities supposedly stepped up protection around Copt places of worship after President Mubarak said he was committed to protecting the Christians “faced with the forces of terrorism and extremism”.

“Security should know that those who demonstrated are the hand of Al-Qaida in Egypt,” said Hany el-Gezeiry, head of Copts4Egypt. “They should have arrested them to investigate who was behind them. They want to destroy Egypt from inside and the government kept quiet, giving them a free hand to do what they wanted. I believe Al-Qaida achieved what it wanted..”

El-Gezeiry asks why this Skoda vehicle was allowed to park in front of the church in an area cordoned off by security, when it was known that Al-Qaeda had already announced its intention of carrying out criminal acts against churches.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that security forces guarding the church withdrew nearly one hour before the blast, leaving only four policemen and an officer to guard such a big church and nearly 2000 people attending the midnight mass. “Normally they would have waited until the mass was over,” said el-Gezeiry. He also commented on the Muslim’s schadenfreude at the massacre at the church, who were heard chanting “Allah Akbar.”

“Is this a victory?” He asks. “Whoever saw this fire and people dying and body parts all over the place and could still chant ‘Allah Akbar’ is a terrorist.”

On January 6 2010, just before the Christmas Eve Massacre in Nag Hammadi, security withdrew its forces from guarding the church a couple of hours before the shooting of the Coptic congregation took place.

Attorney Mamdouh Nakhla, Head of Al-Kalema Human Rights Center, wondered if state security is an accomplice or just too cowardly to confront the Islamists in Egypt who carried out the Church massacre. “The crime is local and those who committed it are known, in addition there was a demonstration on the same day using the same rhetoric like al-Qaida. The Al Mujahedeen website threatens to repeat the attack in more churches. The site has addresses of churches and even how to make a bomb. Does security not know about it?”

“Anyone who says that it was a foreign or Israeli plot is trying to play down the crime and is trying to clear those murderers of this massacre, and I consider them their accomplices,” said Nakhla.

Nakhla said that he was preparing a complaint to be presented to President Mubarak asking for the resignation of Interior Minister Habib el Adly for failing in his duty of protecting the Copts, and for not telling the truth by saying that it was a suicide attack by one individual, when everyone could see the detonated car, just to clear his security personnel of the responsibility of letting the Skoda park in front of the church. “This 100KG bomb could not have been transported by one individual as the Interior Minister wants us to believe.”

On January 1, the funeral of the 21 people killed in the church massacre took place at St. Mina’s Monastery in King Mariout, 50 km from Alexandria. It was attended by representatives of the President, Minsters, the governor of Alexandria, as well as nearly 10,000 Copts who traveled from Alexandria. After the funeral, the Copts, angry with the governor of Alexandria, shouted “resign” and “we do not want you.”

Many thanks to Vlad Tepes for making this video concerning the events in Alexandria on New Year’s Eve. WARNING: Some of the images in this video may be disturbing to sensitive individuals:

17 comments:

doxRaven said...

Remember this?
UN chief Ban Ki-moon sets up a four-member panel Monday to probe Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla

If the UN does not set up an investrigation of the cold blooded murder of Coptic Christians by muslims then their biase and hypocracy will be exposed and the UN's continued existsence should be seriously questioned.

Zenster said...

Al-Qaida threatened the Coptic Church and demanded the release of Muslim women held by the church, else Christians everywhere would be their target.

Yoohoo, Christianity. This is your wake up call.

Notice that language, "Christians everywhere". That means you, your loved ones and your fellow brethern. It's time to fish or cut bait.

He also commented on the Muslim’s schadenfreude at the massacre at the church, who were heard chanting “Allah Akbar.”

“Is this a victory?” He asks. “Whoever saw this fire and people dying and body parts all over the place and could still chant ‘Allah Akbar’ is a terrorist.”


It's good to know that someone noticed. Random Muslims desecrating the Copts' remains is a good indicator of what to expect in general.

Of course, we must now brace ourselves for rioting and arsons by outraged Christians around the world; As would most certainly happen if the blast had been in front of a mosque and Muslim bodies had been similarly disrespected.

goethechosemercy said...

Islam is the enemy of Christianity.
Inductively proven.
Impossible to refute.
Validated by history.
Validated by the imperatives of Muslim scripture & tradition!
The attack was by Egypt on the Copts of Egypt.
So-called Secular Egypt is Islam.
And now, the rest of the world knows it. The deception is over!

goethechosemercy said...

I wonder what part of the Napoleonic Code rewards the persecution of Christians.

HypatiaofAlexandria said...

It totally was NOT me.

-Hypatia of Alexandria

babs said...

The driving of Christians out of Muslim conquered lands continues a pace.
Wait, no, they aren't driving them out they are killing them out!
What a double standard we live by here in the west. Kill Christians coming out of services in Egypt or Iraq; a plan of "insane jihadists"...
Ask that a huge "cultural center" not be built two blocks from ground zero; an appeal by "emotional" extremists.
Maybe we should blow something up?

Anonymous said...

We are taught to turn the other cheek, and that a gentle answer turns away wrath. We were persecuted and went gladly to martyrdom in the coliseums of Rome. My own Church, the ancient +Church of Antioch+, has suffered persecution for a thousand years under Mohammadanism in the East.

Maybe once, just once, we can strike back, and ask forgiveness later?

Zenster said...

Rob: Maybe once, just once, we can strike back, and ask forgiveness later?

Especially if one keeps in mind how it is always easier to seek forgiveness than to obtain permission.

Christian militias should consider launching their own Crusade. This constant Islamic blather about "Crusaders" should be allowed to take on some serious weight. After all, if Muslims are going to perpetually whine about Christian "Crusaders", let's really give them something to whinge about.

Anonymous said...

rob~

Turn the other cheek doesn’t mean what most people think it means.Jesus said, if someone strikes you on the right cheek then you are to turn your face to him in such a way as to present your left cheek. The implication being that he may hit you again. What is the significance of the right cheek. Why not the left cheek? Picture someone getting hit on the right cheek. What is the most likely way for that to happen? Since most people are right handed and would hit someone with the right hand, then the only way for them to hit someone on the right cheek is to do it as a backhanded slap. What Jesus is speaking about here is not letting someone pummel you into a pile of broken bones. Rather He is talking about taking an insult. A backhanded slap is just that.

In Jesus time and place in history, the left hand was used for unclean purposes (I wont go into the detail but you can probably guess some of them imagine a time with no soap and limited water). You wouldnt use your left hand to purchase food, shake someones hand, OR even strike someone. It would be a shameful act to use your left hand for these things.

Also, if you were to strike someone, you would use your BACKHAND to assert dominance and authority. If you instead used your fist or slapped with an open hand, this would mean the person you were striking was your equal (or even your superior!).

OK, did you follow that? It might help to get a partner and act this out (dont really slap them!). Try pretend striking them while 1. not using your left hand and 2. using your backhand to assert your dominance. Youd be using your RIGHT hand, backhanding your inferior and striking them on their RIGHT cheek.

Aha! If someone strikes you on the RIGHT cheek, turn to him the other also.

Try it. Now, only the LEFT cheek is exposed. In order to strike your inferior on their LEFT cheek you have to either use your right forehand or punch them (this would make them your equal) OR use your left backhand (this would shame you in public).

Jesus call to turn to him also the other or as is often quipped turn the other cheek is NOT a call to simply ignore the insult. It is telling us to DEMAND EQUALITY! Stand up to your oppressor! Dont take insults and attacks lying down!

1.


When someone strikes you on the RIGHT cheek as a master would backhand a slave to publicly shame them turn the other cheek. That is, invite them to hit you again AS AN EQUAL, because your oppressor cant backhand you on the left cheek with the right hand, and the left hand is not used for food or human contact in Eastern cultures. That is: you are challenging your oppressor to treat you as a person and not a possession.

now on self defense and being the rightous

Anonymous said...

Turn the other cheek doesn’t mean what most people think it means.Jesus said, if someone strikes you on the right cheek then you are to turn your face to him in such a way as to present your left cheek. The implication being that he may hit you again. What is the significance of the right cheek. Why not the left cheek? Picture someone getting hit on the right cheek. What is the most likely way for that to happen? Since most people are right handed and would hit someone with the right hand, then the only way for them to hit someone on the right cheek is to do it as a backhanded slap. What Jesus is speaking about here is not letting someone pummel you into a pile of broken bones. Rather He is talking about taking an insult. A backhanded slap is just that.

In Jesus time and place in history, the left hand was used for unclean purposes (I wont go into the detail but you can probably guess some of them imagine a time with no soap and limited water). You wouldnt use your left hand to purchase food, shake someones hand, OR even strike someone. It would be a shameful act to use your left hand for these things.

http://rumcrook.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/on-self-defense-and-christian-thought/

after you understand the real meaning of turn the other cheek this is more understandable.

http://www.gleamingedge.com/mirrors/onsheepwolvesandsheepdogs.html

1389 said...

Zenster,

We have an overtly pro-Muslim president in the US, who is doing everything he can to sell us out to al Qaeda.

He is worse than Vidkun Quisling, who merely facilitated the enemy Nazi occupation of Norway. Obozo is actively doing everything he can to sell out not only the US, but the entire western world, to the Muslim enemy.

Obama's actions are all done in public, in front of countless eyewitnesses, and more than fulfill the Constitutional definition of treason.

Were there the slightest bit of justice in this fallen world, Obama would have already met the traditional punishment for that offense.

The reason this does not happen is that we have yet to educate everyone sufficiently to that effect.

Anonymous said...

Zenster said: "Christian militias should consider launching their own Crusade.

This is a proposition for failure. Further, it should have been learned in the sandbox at age 4 that "two wrongs don't make a right."

urah2222 said...

#12 Scherado-

Two wrongs do not make a right, however, the second wrong, done well generally makes the first wrongdoer think twice about future actions. In short, should the Egyptian Copts procure and use means of self-defense, I will not shed a tear for the Muslim victims who have had it coming for 1400 years. Dr. Shalit

Profitsbeard said...

Islam is built on sanctified Terror.

A fundamental malignancy in this creed that will not be Reformed out because this would mean that people now trapped in this dismal 'faith' could leave Islam without fear of being slaughtered by "devout" Muslims.

And without the threat of Mohammad-endorsed, sacrosanct murder, who would remain in this deathcult?

Anonymous said...

Profitsbeard: Polygamists, rapists, pedophiles, and mass murderers are the biggest beneficiaries of Islam and, as such, will support Islam until the bitter end because their deviant behavior is rightly defined as criminal in any civil and just society....

Unknown said...

And now it seems it was Interior Minister Habib el-Adly's doing. He set up and had the bombing carried out himself to further the rift between Muslims and Christians and to "discipline the copts".

No wonder the Egyptian people wanted rid of this insane regime,

Hmm looks like a lot of Christians and Muslims have fallen into his trap. It was good to see the Egyptian Muslims and Copts didn't though. They worked peacefully and with dignity TOGETHER to attain their democracy and freedom.

We need to stop allowing TPTB to divide people, to turn them against one another. Our focus should be on our governments and their actions against all peoples in our names, for their gains.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/02/07/136723.html

goethechosemercy said...

The Muslim Egyptians often approach the Copts as if they are slaves or wayward children.
It's strikingly similar to the Southern approach to blacks in the days of slavery and up to the 60s.
Of course, there's been on Civil Rights Movement in Egypt.
Even though Egyptians want to sell us the idea that non-white non-Westerners are the ultimate authorities about civil liberties and rights in the world.
The Copts are ungrateful.
Punish the Copts.
Get the Copts in line.
That's what Muslims do to Copts, these are their justifications on the ground for their violence.
In Coptic theology, Muslims are seen as worshipping a false god; in Western theology, Muslims have warped the narrative such that Jesus is seen as a prophet by Christians and Allah is seen as the same God as the one in the Bible.
Whatever you do, DO NOT AFFECT the Muslim perspective on your religion and culture. This is the great lesson the Copts teach.