A priest was killed and a second injured after they were attacked by a man in Greater Cairo, the Coptic Orthodox Church said in a statement on Thursday.

"In an unfortunate incident, archpriest Samaan Shehata of St. Julius’s church in Ezbet Girgis in El-Fashn, along with priest Beymen Moftah, of El-Malak church in Matay, were assaulted while in El-Salam City,” read the statement.

El-Salam City is a satellite city north-east of Cairo.

"Priest Samaan was transferred to hospital after he had passed away," the statement added.

The statement did not indicate any motive behind the attack.

In a different statement, Bishop Astafanous of Fashn, Biba and Samasta said the attacker was an "extremist" with a criminal record, and named him as Ahmed-El Sonbaty.

The bishop said that police have arrested the attacker.

The interior ministry has not yet issued a statement on the incident.

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