Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany 
An Egyptian priest has played down the threat of a failed terrorist attack by a jihadi group on Christians which was neutralised by security forces last week.
The group, who have been linked to the Islamic State, was preparing to attack the country’s Christian community during Easter.
Fr Rafic Greiche, head of media committee of the Council of Churches of Egypt, though said that the incident would not “frighten or concern” Christians as “most places of worship” are closed because of Covid-19.
“I don’t think, and this is my personal opinion, that the churches could have been a real target,” said the clergyman.
“The terrorist group perhaps intended to strike elsewhere.”
Base
The incident unfolded in al-Amiriyah, a residential district in eastern Cairo where the terrorists had their base.
After receiving a tip-off, police moved in and a gun battle ensued, which lasted several hours resulting in the deaths of one policeman and seven suspects.
Inside the flat, police found several weapons and a huge cache of ammunition which was to be used in the attacks.
