Alexandria–Egyptian authorities are still trying to identify the suspect suicide bomber who is behind the Alexandria church attack on New Year Eve that left at least 23 killed, a prosecutor said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Egyptian media outlets published a digitally reconstructed photo of a 25-year-old man, alleging that he was behind the suicide attack which hit the Church of St. Mark and St. Peter while Christian Copts where emerging from New Year’s mass.
According to the local press, the conclusion was made after examining 45 pieces of human remains at the scene of the blast.
"We are doing our investigation and the Department of Criminal Evidence hasn't submitted their reports yet," Alexandria District Attorney Yasser al-Refaey told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
"Our [prosecution] office has no information about the photo of the suspected perpetrator published in today's newspapers," said al-Refaey.
He also added that the prosecutors have not been able to collect hard evidence on the perpetrator’s identity from eyewitnesses at the scene after the bombing which took place at 12:20AM Saturday’s dawn.
"Nobody had a clue about the way the explosion had happened or the person behind it," Alexandria’ prosecutor office said in a statement on Thursday.
Al-Refaey also said that the prosecutors have not issued warrants to arrest any suspects.
Security sources have said that at least 20 people were interrogated this week to identify whether they had any links with the bombing.
Media outlets quoted ministry sources on Thursday as revealing that the culprit had used a 25-kilogram improvised explosive device (IED), which he possibly carried in a school bag.
Meanwhile, crime-scene investigators managed to collect fingerprints of 118 dead and injured victims in order to identify them.
The same sources revealed that the blast occurred earlier than planned as the suicide bomber accidentally ignited the bomb with his body while outside the church.
Investigators also discovered that the IED contained several chemical substances mixed with TNT, along with tinplates and iron fragments that caused severe mutilation of the bodies.
Specialized units at the interior ministry had managed to draw a picture of the bomber in order to identify him through the government citizens’ database.
On Wednesday, the ministry announced the discovery of an unidentified corpse which it suspects of belonging to the suicide bomber.
