The Saudi leadership offered on Sunday its condolences to Egypt over the victims of the Coptic church fire.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz sent a cable to Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, expressing his deep sympathy over the incident.
He underlined his profound sorrow to Sisi and families of the deceased, wishing the injured a quick recovery.
He appealed to God Almighty to protect Egypt’s president and people from any harm.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, sent a similar cable.
A fire ripped through a packed Coptic Orthodox church during morning services in Egypt’s capital on Sunday, quickly filling it with thick black smoke and killing 41 worshippers, including at least 15 children.
Several trapped congregants jumped from upper floors of the Martyr Abu Sifin church to try to escape the intense flames, witnesses said.
Sixteen people were injured, including four policemen involved in the rescue effort.
The cause of the blaze at the church in the working-class neighborhood of Imbaba was not immediately known. An initial investigation pointed to an electrical short-circuit, according to a police statement.
