CAIRO (Reuters) - Islamic State said on Saturday that its fighters had carried out a shooting that killed dozens of Egyptian Christians on Friday, according to a statement from the group.

"A security unit from the soldiers of the caliphate set up a checkpoint to ambush tens of Christians headed for the Saint Samuel monastery west of the city of Minya," the statement said.

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7 PHOTOS Attack on Christians in Egypt See Gallery Attack on Christians in Egypt Security guards stand near the site of an attack that killed at least 26 people in Minya, Egypt May 26, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Security guards stand near the site of an attack that killed at least 26 people in Minya, Egypt May 26, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany A security guard gestures near the site of an attack that killed at least 26 people in Minya, Egypt May 26, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany Aftermath of attack on buses and truck carrying Coptic Christians in Minya Province, Egypt, May 26, 2017. EGYPT TV via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. EGYPT OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN EGYPT. Ambulances and medics outside Maghagha Hospital in Minya Province, Egypt in this screen grab take on May 26, 2017. REUTERS TV Aftermath of attack on buses and truck carrying Coptic Christians in Minya Province, Egypt, May 26, 2017. EGYPT TV via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. EGYPT OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN EGYPT. Child wounded in gunmen attack in Egypt taken to the Maghagha hospital in Minya Province, Egypt in this screen grab take on May 26, 2017. REUTERS TV Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Eyewitnesses said on Friday that masked men boarded several vehicles carrying Christians and opened fire at close range, killing at least 29 and injuring 24.

(Reporting by Omar Fahmy; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Giles Elgood and Toby Chopra)

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