Bomb blast in Egypt church

A bomb went off in an empty church in a small town in northern Egypt today, causing little damage and no injuries, security officials said.

The attackers also snatched a cross from outside the building.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The attack in the town of Rafah, on the border with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, comes amid unprecedented political unrest sweeping Egypt.

Rafah is in the Sinai Peninsula, where Bedouin tribesmen have clashed with security forces during the popular revolt.

Even before the uprising, there had been growing tensions between Egypt’s Muslims and large Christian minority.

On New Year’s Day, a suicide bombing outside a Coptic church in the port city of Alexandria killed 21 people, setting off days of protests.