ISIS' leader in Egypt has warned Muslims to stay away from Christian gatherings, as well as government facilities, warning of future attacks on what he called 'legitimate targets' to come.
The statement comes as Egyptian Christians continue to mourn the Palm Sunday bombings on Coptic churches that killed at least 45 and injured over 100, for which ISIS claimed responsibility.
'We are warning you to stay away from Christian gatherings, as well as the gatherings of the army and the police, and the areas that have political government facilities,' the unnamed ISIS leader said in an interview in the jihadist Al Naba weekly newspaper, published on Telegram.
In February this year ISIS vocally incited violence against 'infidel' Egyptian Coptic Christians, who represent about ten per cent of the majority Muslim country. Hundreds of Christians were forced to flee their homes in Sinai, northern Egypt after several targeted murders in the region, given the ultimatum 'leave or die'.
In December 2016, the jihadist group claimed responsibility for a Cairo Coptic church bombing that killed 27.
Some commentators say that the militant oppression of the minority group is part of a targeted attack on Egypt as a whole, aiming at the state's most vulnerable elements. The increased attacks have placed increased pressure on Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as he seeks to keep the country secure and fulfill his promise to protect minorities from extremism.
Additional reporting by Reuters
