Copts deny assassination attempt on pope

The papal office of the Coptic Orthodox Church issued a statement on Saturday, denying rumours in the media that Pope Tawadros II has survived an assassination attempt. "The Coptic Church prays for the security of our country and all Egyptians. We can assure everyone that H.H. Pope Tawadros II is fine,” the statement read, adding that the media should exercise more caution. Several Egyptian television channels and online news outlets have recently reported that the Coptic patriarch survived an assassination attempt in the Egyptian city of Alexandria during a visit to a hospital. The reports claimed that an explosive device was planted beside the hospital.