Roger Anis/AP
Gunmen attacked a bus that was taking Egyptian Christians to a monastery Friday, killing at least 23 people and wounding 25 more, according to local officials and NPR’s Jane Arraf.
The death toll was announced by a spokesman for Egypt’s health ministry.
The attack occurred in Minya, a city some 160 miles south of Cairo along the Nile River.
“Minya has the highest percentage of Christians in Egypt and is the site of regular attacks,” Jane reports.
Coptic Christians were targeted by two deadly attacks in northern Egypt last month, in suicide bombings that killed at least 44 people.