The Coptic Orthodox Church which has its UK headquarters in Stevenage has today expressed its ‘great sadness’ after 25 of its worshippers were murdered by an explosion during Sunday worship at St Peter’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo.

The Comet: Coptic cathedral of St George, Shephalbury Manor, StevenageCoptic cathedral of St George, Shephalbury Manor, Stevenage (Image: Archant)

The church which is next to the Grand Cathedral of Saint Mark was hit by the blast at around 10am.

Many more were reportedly injured in the blast. The victims were mainly women and children.

Staff at the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Shephalbury Manor, issued a statement saying: “Our prayers are with those whose lives have been so senselessly ended, those who have been injured, and every family and community affected. We also pray for every Coptic parish and community across Egypt as they fill their churches this morning, as well as for the broader Egyptian society that fall victim to similar inhumane attacks.

“Many within our Coptic community in Britain will have family and friends in Egypt, and we also pray for them at this time of uncertainty.

“We share in this tragedy but are encouraged by the strength and resilience of our brethren in Egypt that we have grown accustomed to and learn from. We pray God’s peace and protection upon the Christians of Egypt, the broader Egyptian society, Christians around the world worshipping this morning and all faith communities that fall prey to similar attacks.”

Egypt’s Coptic Christians make up about 10 per cent of the country’s population.

The Coptic church dates from about AD 50 when the evangelist St Mark is said to have visited the province.

Egypt’s Coptic minority has repeatedly complained of discrimination by the nation’s Muslim majority and there have been a number of terror attacks against Coptic Christians in recent years.

The centre in Stevenage sits alongside the Cathedral of Saint George, the only Coptic cathedral in the UK.