Egypt arrests 17 over Alexandria attack

Egyptian police say they have arrested 17 people over a bomb attack on a Coptic church in northern city of Alexandria that killed at least 21 worshipers on New Year's Day, PressTV reported.

The arrests came as authorities deployed heavy security forces, including riot police backed by armored vehicles, outside the Coptic Al-Qiddissin church on Sunday, al-Jazeera reported.

Meanwhile dozens of congregants returned to the blood-spattered church to condemn the deadly attack.

"With our soul and our blood we will redeem the Holy Cross," chanted the grieving congregation at the church at the Sunday mass.

The attack sparked angry street protests in the Mediterranean port city among Christians who accuse authorities of not doing enough to protect the minority group in the country.

Al least 21 people were killed and almost 100 others wounded in the attack that came as the New Year's Mass had just ended and some worshippers were leaving the building.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak blamed "foreign hands" for the attack and pledged in televised remarks that he will "cut off the head of the snake, confront terrorism and defeat it."

Mubarak also urged Christians and Muslims to unite in the face of a "common enemy."

According to the interior ministry, eight of those hurt were Muslims.