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More than two-dozen people were killed and scores more injured on Friday when attackers opened fire on a bus carrying Coptic Christians in Egypt's southern Minya province, according to Egypt's Interior Ministry.
"Unidentified individuals in three 4x4 vehicles opened fire indiscriminately on a bus, killing a number of Coptic Christians," the statement read.
"Security forces rushed to the scene of the attack, which took place on the road to St. Samuel's Monastery west of the town of Al-Adwa," it added.
According to the same statement, a total of 26 people were killed in the attack.
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi called for an urgent meeting of his security council to discuss how to deal with the attack, according to a statement released by the office.
In the immediate wake of the deadly attack that occurred at approximately noon local time (1000GMT), a local security source confirmed to Anadolu Agency that it had taken place on a desert road that links Minya to the nearby province of Beni Sueif.
The same source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ill-fated bus had been traveling from Beni Sueif to a monastery that is approximately 220 kilometers (136 miles) south of Cairo.
Witnesses reported seeing the attackers open fire from three vehicles before fleeing the scene, according to the source.
In April, al-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency following a dual attack on two churches in northern Egypt that left 45 Coptic Christian worshipers dead and scores injured.
The Daesh terrorist group later claimed responsibility for the twin attacks thatfb occurred on the Christian Palm Sunday holiday.
The state of emergency allows authorities to implement a host of exceptional security measures, including the referral of terror suspects to State Security courts, the imposition of curfews and the confiscation of newspapers.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry, for its part, condemned Friday's attack.
"We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated today against Coptic Christians in Minya, which caused numerous deaths and injuries," it said in a statement, that also offered condolences to the families of the victims.
U.S. President Donald Trump also strongly condemned the "merciless slaughter of Christians in Egypt" he said "tears at our hearts and grieves our souls.
"Civilization is at a precipice—and whether we climb or fall will be decided by our ability to join together to protect all faiths, all religions, and all innocent life," he added in a statement. "No matter what, America will do what it must to protect its people." -
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