Egyptian President announced the introduction of emergency regime in the country

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the introduction of a state of emergency in the country for a period of three months. In his statement, which sounded on the air of national television, the head of state emphasized that this is a forced measure after bloody Sunday terrorist attacks , Reuters reports.

“The state of emergency is introduced to protect the country, and the terms of entry will be announced after the adoption of the relevant constitutional and legal procedures. I am not addressing you as Christians or Muslims, but as the Egyptians, terrorists are trying to undermine our unity, and we must be vigilant to preserve our homeland,” the president said.

TASS reports that by the evening of Sunday on the streets of Cairo, special forces of the Egyptian army were deployed, dozens of units of light armored vehicles, army jeeps patrol the city. Similar measures are taken throughout the republic, where infrastructure, church, mosque and state institutions are taken under protection.

Earlier, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the army to units "about the immediate deployment and assistance of the police in ensuring the security of vital objects in all provinces of the republic." The capital's international airport was taken under special control.

The TASS correspondent notes that there is no obvious panic in the country, but there are unusually few people on the streets.

Shortly before the announcement of the emergency regime, the Egyptian leader convened a special meeting of the National Defense Council, which was attended by the speaker of the parliament, Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the general intelligence chief of staff and chief of staff of the Armed Forces.

The two largest terrorist attacks in Egypt have occurred on Sunday afternoon with a difference of several hours. At first, the suicide bomber put into effect a powerful explosives in the Christian Church of St. George in the city of Tanta (60 kilometers north of Cairo). According to official figures, 27 people were injured in the victims of this attack, about 80 were injured.

Soon after, the explosion thundered near the Cathedral of St. Mark in Alexandria. TASS with reference to personnel shown by local television channels reports that the terrorist tried to enter the temple, but this was prevented by the law enforcement officer. The suicide bomber was sent to the frame of the metal detector. Approaching her, he blew himself half a meter from the two police officers who stood there.

17 people became victims of the second explosion, 48 were injured. Among the dead are seven police officers, including three women. At the time of the terrorist attack in the church was the Coptic Patriarch Tavadros II, he was not injured.

Responsibility for terrorist attacks was taken by the Islamic State terrorist group (IG*). Reuters, referring to the statement published by the militants, reports that the authors of both terrorist attacks were undermined with the help of suicide belts. The Islamists warned that they would not be limited to attacks on April 9.