Egyptian police have prevented a terrorist attempt to bomb a Coptic church in northeast Egypt.
![The partially-renovated inside of Mar Girgis church, El-Arish, Egypt](https://i0.wp.com/www.heartpublications.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Mar-Girgis-Coptic-Orthodox-Church-in-El-Arish-.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1)
The Mar Girgis (St George) church in El-Arish, which was also attacked during anti-Christian violence in August 2013, was saved by state security forces outside the building. The attackers’ vehicle was destroyed.
About 15 terrorists clashed with police in a series of attacks in the town on 16 October. The National Bank of Egypt was targeted, as well as the church. Three policemen and three civilians were killed.