Following the bombings at the Church of Mar Girguis in Tanta and St. Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria, security measures were tightened at major churches nationwide. However, an Al-Masry Al-Youm reporter entered a church carrying a bag without being inspected.
The security forces deployed in the downtown area of Cairo imposed a security cordon at Kasr al-Dobara evangelical church.
Before the explosions, entrance to the church required the presentation of IDs and security personnel checking for a cross on visitors' hands.
After the bombings, visitors have to enter through metal detector gates and bags should be examined by the security personnel.
As soon as the reports of the bombings were published, the security measures in the vicinity of the churches in downtown Cairo were tightened, and no one was allowed to enter after prayers, even for the purpose of visiting.
A few meters away, Al-Masry Al-Youm's reporter entered the Church of the Virgin Mary in Garden City carrying a bag without being inspected by security personnel.
Michael Samir, a worshipper, said there was no security presence in front of the church before or after the explosions.
The church's doors were open, although there was a sermon going on inside. Anyone was allowed to enter without their personal papers being examined, Samir said.
Scouts, a dedicated group of church members who organize church events, were also absent before the explosions, according to Samir.
After the blasts, scouts appeared and prevented anyone from entering the church with a cell phone, upon instructions by the priests, Samir mentioned.
Worshipper Sanaa Morcos said security measures were tightened at the cathedral of Abbasiya, where security was verifying IDs and checking for the cross on hands. Visitors were then personally inspected by scouts, Morcos added.
Visitors passed through metal detector gates installed at the back gates as the main gate was closed after the bombings, said worshipper Isaac Younis. Younis and his wife, Nadia, took their children to Abbasiya cathedral, despite recent events.
"We are not afraid because it is the house of our Lord, and we are all blessed through the redemption of Christ," said Younis.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
