Egypt suicide bombings: Hijabi officer died trying to protect Christians

Tributes have been paid to the first woman to die in the line of duty in Egypt’s national police force.

Nagwa Abdel-Aleem was one of seven officers to lose their lives in the Palm Sunday church bombings claimed by the so-called Islamic State (Daesh).

The 55-year-old officer died when she stopped a Daesh suicide bomber from entering a Coptic Church in Alexandria. One of her sons, also a police officer, was killed in the incident.

At least 45 people were killed in two attacks targeting Egypt’s Christian minority on Sunday (April 9) – the first at St George`s Church in Tanta, about 60 miles north of Cairo, followed by the explosion during Mass at Alexandria’s Saint Mark’s Cathedral.

Ms Abdel-Aleem was guarding the entrance to the church when the suicide bomber attempted to pass her security check. Unable to proceed any further, he detonated the bomb at the main gate.

It is thought the attacker`s primary target was Pope Tawadros II, who had left the site a few minutes earlier.

Pictures of her alongside her husband, an army lieutenant, have been widely circulated on social media, along with messages of thanks and blessings.

“Muslim police officer in a hijab lost her life defending Alexandria`s Coptic Cathedral. Don`t judge people by what they wear. Actions count,” one tribute on Twitter read.

Daesh later claimed responsibility for the bloodshed, saying two of its fighters wearing suicide vests carried out the attacks, and warned of more to come.

A three-month state of emergency has been declared in Egypt in the wake of Sunday’s two suicide attacks.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s ruling comes as the Daesh attacks have raised fears over a visit to Cairo by Pope Francis, planned for later this month to promote interfaith dialogue.