Investigations by the Supreme State Security Prosecution into the bombing operation that targeted the Church of the Two Saints, St. Mark and Pope Peter, in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, revealed that the attack was a suicide one.

This was the outcome of reports by the technical, forensic and criminal evidence departments, discrediting earlier reports that the explosion was caused by a car bomb off the church.

The attack, which took place on January 1, 2011, had left 21 people killed and dozens others wounded.

Coptic lawyer Joseph Malāk accused the former interior minister, Habīb al-‘Ādlī, of dereliction of duty to secure churches despite earlier warnings about possible attacks targeting Egyptian churches, including the Two Saints Church, on New Year’s Eve.