Sources indicate that the Presidency turned to the army in much the same way as it did in Port Said and Suez, where many people were killed and injured as a result of attacks of armed extremist factions.

A source said that Christian leaders had appealed to al-Sīsī and military leaders to intervene in order to save the Christians inside the Cathedral from attacks from militias and police. The Presidency however, had not dispatched the military to secure the Copts. In fact, the military had asked to mediate and play the role of the guarantor to end the attacks of Saint Mark Cathedral. This is unprecedented in the history of Egypt and the Presidency will be unable to manipulate international public opinion surrounding these events.

Sources hinted to the probability of success of the Chief of Staff Sidqī Sabbahī who was on trip to Libya to deal with the crisis of Coptic detainees held in prison on charges of proselytisation. These mediation efforts can perhaps help the Presidency appease the Church and the Pope and encourage Christians to reduce their anger towards the government.

The Presidency has dispatched three assistants to visit the Cathedral and to report back on the current situation. They have to convey the message that the Church is a Coptic Egyptian symbol and that investigations will be conducted in order to hold accountable those who committed the acts of violence.

This message however, did not generate any response from church leaders, including Pope Tawadros. The Pope announced the cancellation of the weekly sermon and Bishop Pachomius, a powerful figure at the Cathedral and a man greatly loved among Egyptian Christians, refused to meet with the delegation. The Church has not accepted the delegation as mediators especially since the Presidency has not issued any apology to the Copts for the attacks on the Cathedral (Amīrah Ibrāhīm, al-Tahrīr, Apr. 11, p. 3). Read original text in Arabic.