Aug 12, 2018

Egyptian authorities have arrested six suspected members of a "terrorist cell" behind a failed suicide attack on a church in the outskirts of Cairo, the interior ministry said Sunday.

A suicide bomber attempted to attack the Virgin Lady Church in the Shobra el-Kheima district on Saturday but blew himself up before reaching his target, officials said.

Authorities said an explosive device hidden beneath his clothing detonated as he retreated due to the heavy police presence around the church.

The police identified the bomber as Omar Mohamed Ahmed.

They said he was part of a "terrorist cell", but did not specify which group it belonged to.