Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church mourned Sunday a police officer who was killed while defusing an improvised explosive device (IED) found near a church in Nasr City, Cairo.

The church, in a statement, offered condolences to the family of the deceased, thanking the police for their efforts and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

According to security sources in Cairo, a police officer was killed Saturday while trying to defuse an improvised explosive device (IED) that was found in a slum area in Nasr City district near a church.

The police officer was a bomb disposal expert in the Cairo security directorate.

The IED, which was put in a bag, was placed on a building's roof in Ezzbet El-Hagana. A mosque imam reported to authorities that a suspicious bag was left on the roof of the building. 

Egypt's Orthodox Christians will celebrate Christmas in churches across the country Sunday evening.