Egyptian security forces thwarted on Saturday a suicide attack that was targeting a Coptic Christian church north of Cairo.
The man tried to enter the church in Mostorod district in Qaliubiya province with churchgoers but heightened security around the church prevented him from approaching, Egyptian security officials said.
The assailant was forced to detonate a suicide belt as a result of the heavy police presence around the Virgin Church in the Shobra el-Kheima district, state media reported.
He detonated the explosives about 250 meters (275 yards) from the church, killing himself. No other fatalities were reported.
Mostorod is located some 11.5 kilometers (7.2 miles) north of Cairo. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attempted attack.
Egypt has been under a state of emergency since bombings and suicide attacks targeting minority Coptic Christians killed scores in 2017. The extremist ISIS group claimed those attacks.
The Egyptian army is currently waging a major operation focused on the Sinai Peninsula to wipe out ISIS and other terrorists.
