A number of Egypt's cultural institutions declared three days of mourning starting Sunday 11 December till Tuesday 13 December, after an explosion near the Coptic Cathedral in Abbassiya district killed at least 25 people and injured 49.

The venues, who announced the halting of all culture activities during the three days, include the Cairo Opera House, across all its venues in Cairo, Alexandria and Damanhour; the Artistic Theatre House with all of the theatres that operate under its umbrella; and Bibliotheca Alexandrina's Arts Centre.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi declared in a statement that the country will observe three days of mourning.

The explosion is the largest attack targeting Christians since 2011, when 23 people were killed in an explosion at the Two Saints Church in Alexandria. 

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