A gunman opened fire on worshippers outside a church in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Friday, killing at least nine people, in the latest of a string of deadly attacks on the Christian minority.

The masked assailant had first fired at a Christian-owned electronics shop three miles away, killing brothers Romani and Attia Shaker, before proceeding to the Mar Mina church in the southern suburb of Helwan, where he began shooting and tried to throw an explosive device.

He shot two police guards - who had been assigned to guard the church ahead of Coptic Christmas next week - killing one and injuring another.

The church’s Father Boules told the Telegraph that 10 mins after Friday’s service ended the congregation heard a burst of gunfire outside. “I was taking confession at that moment and I rushed out my office and told all those who were left to get into the room and then locked everyone inside,” he said.

He said the gunman exchanged fire with the guards outside until they ran out of bullets. He then tried to enter the church but a member of the congregation had managed to close the door.