Shocking images has shown the devastating moment a blast from a suicide bomber ripped through a church in Alexandria as attacks on two religious sites in Egypt claimed the lives of at least 47 people.
Hundreds were injured as bombs ripped through two Coptic Christian churches within hours of each other in attacks claimed by ISIS.
Egyptian media has beamed CCTV footage of the Alexandria bombing and reporting that a man seen in a blue jumper is a suspect.
Two clips show the man approach the main gate to St. Mark's cathedral, before being turned away and directed toward a nearby metal detector.
The man then passes a female police officer chatting to another woman and enters the metal detector before an explosion engulfs the area sending debris flying.
Earlier in the day the first deadly explosion had struck at St George's Coptic Church in Tanta, 70 miles north of Cairo, killing 29 people and wounding 78 others
Officials said the blast happened “in the front rows, near the altar, during the mass” as worshippers celebrated Palm Sunday - the Sunday before Easter, which marks the start of Holy Week for Christians.
Horrifying footage and images posted on social media appears to show the aftermath as crowds gathered around dead bodies and large blood stains on the pews and church walls.
Hours later, a suicide bomber carried out the second attack outside St Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in the coastal city of Alexandria - killing 18 people and injuring 66 others, the Egyptian health ministry confirmed.
It has been announced Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will declare a state of emergency for three months following the attacks, less than four years after emergency measures were last brought in following the Rabaa massacre.
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