Bomb attack near Cairo Coptic cathedral kills at least 25

Police officers cordoned off the area from family members and other churchgoers

A bombing near the Coptic cathedral in the Egyptian capital Cairo has killed at least 25 people, officials say.

Dozens of others were reportedly injured in the blast at St Peter's church.

The church is adjacent to St Mark's cathedral, within the same complex. Photos and video footage showed damage to the church, with shattered windows and broken roofing.

The explosion happened at around 10:00 (08:00 GMT).

Video sourced by regional media appeared to show the interior of the church littered with broken and scattered furniture, along with blood and clothing on the floor.

"I saw a headless woman being carried away,'' one eyewitness told the Associated Press. "Everyone was in a state of shock."

"There were children. What have they done to deserve this? I wish I had died with them instead of seeing these scenes,'' she said.

Interior minister Magdi Abdel-Ghaffar and Cairo's security chief both inspected the scene, according to local media.

Egypt's Coptic Christians make up about 10% of the country's population.

St Mark's Cathedral is the headquarters of the country's Orthodox church, and the home of its leader, Pope Tawadros II.

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