At least 23 people died and 25 people were injured after gunmen attacked a bus carrying Coptic Christians in central Egypt on Friday.
Egypt's state media reported that the incident took place in Minya province, about 220km (140 miles) south of the capital Cairo, as the bus headed to the Monastery of St Samuel.
In recent months, there have been a number of attacks on Copts claimed by Islamic State (IS) militants. Egypt's Christian minority, which makes up about 10 percent of the country's population, has repeatedly been targeted by armed groups.
In April, dozens of people were killed in two separate bomb attacks on churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria during Palm Sunday ceremonies.
One of the recent deadly attacks prompted President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to declare a nationwide state of emergency and promise to do whatever was necessary to confront jihadists.
In December 2016, a bombing at Cairo's largest Coptic cathedral killed at least 25 people and wounded 49, including many women and children.
**This story is developing**
