Investigators suspect that the Alexandria church bombing on New Year’s Eve was carried out by three to five Egyptians from neighboring cities with the help of foreign parties, according to security sources close to the investigation.
The same sources also said that the bomb used in the blast weighed between ten and 15 kgs and contained explosive material not available locally.
They added that they would soon announce details of the crime, which killed 23 Coptic Christians and left scores injured.
The sources explained that the security detail guarding the church at the time had left the area after being subject to inspection by an Alexandria security director only ten minutes before the blast.
They also pointed out that a Salafi Muslim man allegedly tortured to death by police in the wake of the incident had been summoned for questioning before the bombing in line with standard security procedures. The man had not been suspected of involvement in the church attack, they added, noting that police were currently investigating the cause of his death.
Police are also reportedly questioning the owner of a nearby shop after reports surfaced about an unknown man who had purchased large quantities of nails from the shop two days before the bombing.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
