Chief of province of Coptic massacre removed

Egypt has removed the security chief of a south Cairo province where Daesh militants killed 29 Christians who were travelling to a remote monastery last week.

According to an interior ministry statement released on Monday, Major General Faisal Dewidar was transferred from his post and assigned the position of deputy director of the security forces, it was not clear if the position will remain in Minya.

Dewidar’s transfer is part of a wider reshuffle in the police that included the removal and transfer of 13 other interior ministry officials.

Read: What is Libya’s role in the terrorism that’s hit Egypt?

According to subsequent investigations, there were no security forces on the stretch of the desert road leading to the Minya monastery or nearby allowing the assailants to escape without a struggle.

Coptic Christians travelling by bus in Minya were ambushed by Daesh militants, dressed in army uniform, who opened fire on the civilians last Friday, killing 29 and injuring dozens.

The attack is the fourth assault claimed by Daesh which has targeted Christians since December and killed more than 100.

Egypt responded to the attack by launching a series of airstrikes on militant bases in eastern Libya in which the assailants in the Minya attack were believed to be trained.