21 Egyptians in Libya 'killed by IS'
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 16, 2015
The Islamic State (IS) militant group on Sunday published a video purportedly showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians abducted in Libya.
Later, the Egyptian Orthodox Church confirmed the killing.
The spokesman said the Church is in contact with a number of government institutions to follow up the situation.
Some IS Libyan affiliates' social webpage circulated a video purporting to show the beheading of the Egyptians. The victims, dressed in orange, were lined up near the seashore and forced to knee on the ground.
The Egyptians were abducted in Libya's central city of Sirte on two separate occasions in December and January, only one week apart.
Part of Sirte is now controlled by the IS affiliate in Libya. Recently, gunmen loyal to the IS have taken control of two local radio stations airing IS propaganda contents. The local council and a hospital also fell to their hands.
Libya is now deadlocked in a dogfight between the pro-secular army and Islamist militants. The turmoil makes an ideal hotbed and recruiting ground for terrorism.
On Jan. 27, an IS affiliate in Libya targeted the biggest hotel in the capital Tripoli, killing nine people and injuring dozens.
Earlier in December, armed groups claiming loyalty to IS also set up bases in the eastern city of Derna.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said early Monday that his country reserves the right to respond at the proper time to the killing of 21 Coptic Egyptians.
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