Hospitals around Alexandria received seven dead bodies and 24 wounded, after a car bomb exploded near a church, according to the Ministry of Interior.
The bombing, which happened minutes after midnight at the end of a Coptic new year mass, allegedly erupted from a church-goer's car that was parked near the church, the ministry's statement added.
Victims are both Christians and Muslims.
Muslims and Christians rioted near the church chanting sectarian slogans after the bombing. Police used tear gas to separate them, according to eyewitnesses.
President Hosni Mubarak ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. According to the Middle East News Agency, he asked “all Egyptians to stand together against terrorism and those who threaten the security of the nation and the unity of its people.”
Church sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Pope Shenouda will possibly cancel Christmas celebrations that take place on 7 January to mourn the victims.
Al-Qaeda's Iraq branch recently threatened to attack Egypt's Christians and warned of a fierce escalation if the church doesn't release two Christian women who allegedly converted to Islam.
Alexandria, a stronghold for increasing extremism, has recently witnessed sectarian violence. In 2006, simultaneous attacks took place in three different churches in the city.
