Gunmen kill 12 in Cairo church

Twelve people have been killed in a gun attack outside a Coptic Christian church near the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

Two men on a motorcycle opened fire and tried to storm the Mar Mina church in Helwan City on Friday, which led to a shootout between the attackers and security officers, according to Egypt's Health Ministry spokesman. Eight Coptic Christians were among those killed.

Egypt's Interior Ministry said one of the two attackers was killed. The second assailant is said to have fled the scene.

🔴🇪🇬🙏#Breaking 10 people have been killed this morning in front of a Coptic Church in the south of #Cairo, officials say. About 1 hour later, a Coptic-owned shop in the same area may have been attacked, leaving 2 dead. About 100 Christians have been killed in #Egypt in 2017 pic.twitter.com/GiGOaJdh45

— SOS Chrétiens Orient (@SOSCdOrient) December 29, 2017

Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Christians are frequently targeted in Egypt. More than 100 Christians have been killed in Egypt in the past year - most attacks claimed by the local branch of the so-called Islamic State group.

Security forces have put checkpoints in place around the capital in response to the attacks.

They announced plans to deploy rapid-reaction forces and electronic jamming equipment earlier this week to protect festivities around the New Year and Coptic Christmas on 7 January.

During a Palm Sunday service in April more than 40 people were killed and many more injured by bomb attacks in two separate cities and in May nearly 30 people were killed when gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians to a monastery.