Thousands of Egyptian Muslims and Christians joined together in Cairo to protest and condemn the attack against the Two Saints Church, Saint Mark and Pope Peter on New Year's Day. They also called for national unity and solidarity. Similar protests also took place in other Egyptian cities.
Meanwhile, the commitee of political affairs accused Israel's intelligence service of plotting the attack with the aim of inciting sectarian tensions in the country.
Some clues in the article come from a security official, who says that the suicide bomber tried to enter the church in order to inflict more casualties, also saying that foreign elements are involved.
On the website of an al-Qā‘idah-inspired group, contrasting reports were published about the responsibility of the bombing. The article also mentions that an al-Qā‘idah-linked website has listed specific names of churches to attack.
Minister of legal and parliamentary affairs Mufīd Shihāb pointed out that President Mubārak never obstructed the building of churches, in response to those who held him partially responsible for the bombing.
Meanwhile, hundreds of angry Copts protested and blamed security authorities for what happened. The paper says that several Copts and policemen were injured during the clashes, but no arrests were made.