• Thanks for stopping by. Logging in to a registered account will remove all generic ads. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Canadian Coptic Christians seek protection post-bombing, online threats

The Bread Guy

Moderator
Staff member
Directing Staff
Subscriber
Donor
Reaction score
2,453
Points
1,260
Canadian Copts respond to 1 Jan 11 Egyptian bombing - more on the initial incident here:
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/98359/post-1004796.html#msg1004796
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/98360/post-1004852.html#msg1004852

This from AFP ....
Copts in Canada have hired private security contractors to protect churchgoers during this week's Christmas period after an attack in Egypt and Islamist threats, the national association said Monday.

Canada has an estimated 255,000 Copts, mainly in Toronto where there are 14 Coptic churches, but also in Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver, where police patrols are also likely to be stepped up for midnight masses on Thursday.

"The churches are going to conduct ceremonies with no problem, it's going to be the same as usual. However, the security will be tightened up around the buildings," Canadian Coptic Association spokesman Sherif Mansour told AFP.

"The people who are going to enter (the churches) will be only people known by the community, and we have hired a private security company to be within the churches perimeters," Mansour said ....

.... this from the Globe & Mail ....
Coptic Christians in Canada are imploring police to step up security at churches during this week’s orthodox Christmas celebrations, as they brace for any copycat violence after last weekend’s suicide bombing in Egypt.

Fallout from the slaying of 21 people at an Alexandria church is causing political turmoil in Egypt and ripples of fear to spread in diaspora communities through the West. Yet Copts in Canada say they will still turn out in droves this week to celebrate the birth of Christ.

“We have strong faith that God is protecting us as his people. But, on the other hand, we are expecting that authorities do their part,” said Rev. Angelos Saad.

He and his officials are to meet local police Tuesday to discuss security measures. The fear is that terrorists could target his 2,000 congregants during the midnight mass on Jan. 7.

Canadian authorities are insisting there are no known credible threats. Yet in Europe, authorities are stepping up security at some churches in France and Austria ....

.... and another reason why Canadian Copts worry, via CP:
More than 100 Canadian-Arab Christians are listed on an al-Qaida affiliated website, apparently targeted because of their alleged role in attempting to convert Muslims.

Some of those named say concerned Canadian intelligence officials have contacted them.

The Shumukh-al-Islam website, often considered to be al-Qaida's mouth piece, listed pictures, addresses and cell phone numbers of Coptic Christians, predominantly Egyptian-Canadians, who have been vocal about their opposition to Islam.

In a forum on the website, one member named Son of a Sharp Sword, says "We are going to return back to Islam and all of the Mujahedeen (holy warriors) will cut off their heads."

Three pages of the fundamentalist, Arabic-language website titled "Complete information on Coptics" sets to "identify and name all of the Coptics throughout the world who hope to defame Islam," The website calls the Coptic Christians living abroad "dogs in diaspora," a derogatory reference in Arabic ....
 
This from the Globe & Mail:
Coptic Christians in Canada face a “medium” threat of a terrorist attack this week, according to a federal security agency – a threat level that remains constant despite heightened fears that Islamist extremists may attack Western targets during this week’s Orthodox Christian celebrations.

The Globe and Mail has obtained a Jan. 2 assessment by the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre, a clearinghouse of federal intelligence that circulates warnings to Canadian security agents.

The threat level against Coptic Christians in Canada has not been elevated this week, despite fears in the community that copycat terrorists might emulate a deadly suicide bombing in Egypt that killed 21 Copts last weekend.

“ITAC assesses that the threat to the Coptic Christian community remains as Medium,” the advisory says. It adds that “there is no intelligence indicating that an attack is forthcoming” in Canada.

The five-level threat scale used by ITAC ranges from “no known threat” to “low” to “medium” to “high to “imminent.” The latter categories are used only when authorities identify specific individuals as “having the capability and intent to commit an act of serious violence.” ....
 
....according to the Canadian Press:
Security has been increased at Coptic churches across Canada as they prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ this Friday, in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in Egypt last week.

Coptic Orthodox leaders in Canada have been contacted by the RCMP due to concerns that extremists may target the Coptic diaspora abroad.

Selim Naguib, Head of the Canadian Coptic Association based in Montreal, said the RCMP are taking every precaution to ensure no attacks are carried out as they celebrate the Orthodox Christmas.

"The RCMP is doing every thing it can to protect us. I think we will be okay," said Naguib who declined to disclose what steps police are taking. Naguib said he was asked by the RCMP not to reveal the security plan.
 
I've heard about the attack in Alexandria on New Year's Day but I was wondering why are you specifying in your title about Vancouver ?

Regards,
 
Antoine said:
I've heard about the attack in Alexandria on New Year's Day but I was wondering why are you specifying in your title about Vancouver ?

Regards,
My bad - got fooled by the placeline (where the story was written).

Meanwhile, some places are changing their services:
Calgary's Coptic Christian community has cancelled its Christmas Day festivities in a gesture of solidarity with those killed in a suicide bombing in Egypt.

Coptic Christians follow the Julian calendar, and so celebrate Christmas Eve on Jan. 6 and Christmas Day on Jan. 7.

But this year, following an attack on a Coptic church in Egypt on New Year's Day that left 21 people dead, they are keeping their events religious and cancelling the festive ones.

The congregation will gather as usual on Thursday night. But rather than celebrate on Friday like they normally would, the roughly 1,000-strong congregation will hold a candlelight vigil at Calgary city hall ....

...with more from CP....
Some Coptic churches in Canada are cancelling part of their Christmas celebrations in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in Egypt last week.

In Toronto and Montreal, the regions with the most Coptic Orthodox churches, many have called off the "social and fun parts" of the holiday out of solidarity with those affected by the New Year's Day attack.

Mark Mankarious, an active member of the Ti Agia Maria and St. Demiana Coptic Orthodox Church in west Toronto, says there will be no traditional banquet or kids' activities after tonight's holiday mass.

Meanwhile, the Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Longueuil, just south of Montreal, is sending the funds it would have spent on games and festivities to the families of the victims in Egypt ....

.... while some are carrying on as per usual:
Winnipeg's Coptic Church is going ahead with Christmas celebrations Thursday night in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in Egypt.

Several Winnipeg Egyptians lost friends and family in the New Year's Eve blast that killed up to 23 people in Alexandria, Egypt.

"It's hard to explain. It's shocking, just shocking news," said George Abraham with the Coptic Heritage Society of Manitoba ....
 
Back
Top