Egypt security forces have killed seven suspected "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) sympathisers thought to be planning attacks against Coptic Christians, al-Ahram reported Tuesday (April 11th).
The Interior Ministry announced the operation on Monday, a day after deadly twin church bombings.
"A group of ISIL sympathisers were hiding in one of Assiut province's mountainous areas", the ministry said in a statement.
The group was hiding in the southern province "to prepare explosive devices in preparation for carrying out a series of terrorist attacks", the ministry said.
They were killed after a shootout with the police, who found rifles, ammunition, and ISIL publications in the hideout, it said.
The announcement follows two attacks on churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday, which killed 44 people and were claimed by ISIL.
Security officials were able to identify three of those killed, who were born in Egypt and thought to be planning attacks targeting Christians in Assiut and the neighbouring province of Sohag, the statement said.
The group was also planning attacks against police and courts, it said.
