- 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 ....
.... this from the Globe & Mail ....
.... and another reason why Canadian Copts worry, via CP:
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 ....