In Egypt, two blasts targeting Coptic Christians on Palm Sunday have killed at least 40 people. More than 100 people were injured. Officials say, in Alexandria, an explosion outside St Mark's Coptic church killed 13 people. Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending Mass inside and was unhurt. An earlier blast at St George's Coptic church in Tanta killed 27 people. Islamic State says, it is behind the explosions. <br/>'The Interior Ministry said, four police officers, including one policewoman, were among those killed in Alexandria. The suicide bomber blew himself up after they stopped him from entering the church. The first explosion in Tanta, north of Cairo, took place near the altar. <br/>'Security forces later dismantled two explosive devices at the Sidi Abdel Rahim Mosque, also in Tanta.<br/>'The blasts appear to have been timed for maximum impact, as people gathered to mark Palm Sunday, one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, marking the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.<br/>'Egyptian security forces had been put on alert in anticipation of attacks. Pope Francis, who is due to visit Egypt later this month, has condemned the explosions.<br/>

At least 40 people have died in Egypt after blasts targeted Coptic Christians on Palm Sunday. Six people were killed when an explosion struck outside St Mark's Coptic Church in Alexandria. According to official sources, Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Church, had been attending mass inside. He is unhurt.<br/>Twenty-five people had died in an earlier blast at St George's Coptic church, in the city of Tanta, about 130 kms south-east. Pope's Secretary said the attack in Alexandria was carried out by a suicide bomber who struck outside the church.<br/>After the first explosion in Tanta, provincial governor Ahmad Deif told the state-run Nile News channel that either a bomb was planted or someone blew himself up. General Tarek Atiya, a spokesperson at Egypt's interior ministry, told AFP news agency that the blast in Tanta took place near the altar. A search is under way for any more explosives which could be in the vicinity.