Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has announced a three-month state of emergency after attacks on two Coptic churches that left at least 44 dead.

The measure allows authorities to make arrests without warrants and search people’s homes. It needs to be approved by parliament before it is implemented.

Islamic State said it was behind the blasts in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday.

President Sisi made a defiant speech at the presidential palace after a meeting of the national defence council to discuss the explosions.

According to BBC News, he warned that the war against the jihadists would be “long and painful”, and said that the state of emergency would come into force after all “legal and constitution steps” were taken.

The president had earlier ordered the deployment of the military across the country to protect “vital and important infrastructure”.

Taiwan National Day Celebration

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