A bomb blast at a church north of Cairo killed at least 21 people and wounded dozens who had gathered for Palm Sunday mass, state media reported.

Some 59 people were wounded in the blast, which struck at a Coptic Church in the Nile Delta City of Tanta, 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Cairo, the reports said.

A medical official at a hospital in Tanta confirmed to AFP that at least 13 people had been killed.

Palm Sunday is one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar, marking the triumphant entrance of Jesus to Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The state-run Nile television channel said the blast struck the Mar Girgis Coptic Church in Tanta just before 10:00 am (0800 GMT).

Provincial governor Ahmad Deif told the channel that at least 42 people were wounded and that the explosion occurred inside the church.

“Either a bomb was planted or someone blew himself up,” Deif said, adding that security forces had searched the church and surrounding areas for additional explosive devices.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday’s blast.

Source: AFP