<p>At least 22 people were killed and over 30 injured today in a blast at Cairo's main Coptic Christian cathedral during a mass, the latest attack on minorities suspected to be carried out by jihadists.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The explosion took place at St Mark's Cathedral, main Coptic Christian cathedral, in central Cairo, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health.<br /><br />According to the Egyptian state TV, 22 people were killed while 35 others injured when a bomb was lobbed into a chapel near the cathedral's outer wall.<br /><br />The reason of the large number of victims was because the blast took during Christian pray time and there were a large number inside the cathedral, the statement said.<br /><br />The bomb was remotely exploded.<br /><br />Most of the victims are women and children, officials said.<br /><br />The number of casualties may rise.<br /><br />The incident came two days after six policemen were killed an attack in Cairo on Friday.<br />St Mark's Cathedral is the seat of Egypt's Orthodox Christian church and is home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.<br /><br />Jihadists in Sinai often target Christians as well as Muslims they accuse of working with the government.<br /><br />Copts, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's population of 90 million, have faced persecution and discrimination that increased during the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled by a popular uprising in 2011.<br /><br />Dozens have been killed in recent years in sectarian attacks and clashes throughout Egypt. </p>
<p>At least 22 people were killed and over 30 injured today in a blast at Cairo's main Coptic Christian cathedral during a mass, the latest attack on minorities suspected to be carried out by jihadists.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The explosion took place at St Mark's Cathedral, main Coptic Christian cathedral, in central Cairo, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health.<br /><br />According to the Egyptian state TV, 22 people were killed while 35 others injured when a bomb was lobbed into a chapel near the cathedral's outer wall.<br /><br />The reason of the large number of victims was because the blast took during Christian pray time and there were a large number inside the cathedral, the statement said.<br /><br />The bomb was remotely exploded.<br /><br />Most of the victims are women and children, officials said.<br /><br />The number of casualties may rise.<br /><br />The incident came two days after six policemen were killed an attack in Cairo on Friday.<br />St Mark's Cathedral is the seat of Egypt's Orthodox Christian church and is home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.<br /><br />Jihadists in Sinai often target Christians as well as Muslims they accuse of working with the government.<br /><br />Copts, who make up about 10 per cent of Egypt's population of 90 million, have faced persecution and discrimination that increased during the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled by a popular uprising in 2011.<br /><br />Dozens have been killed in recent years in sectarian attacks and clashes throughout Egypt. </p>