On 29 December 2017, the church was attacked by Islamist militants.[4] Police noticed two men behaving suspiciously, who fired on the police when challenged.[4] Three police officers, one of the attackers and seven other people died.[4] The dead attacker was found to have been wearing an explosive belt. The other attacker was subsequently arrested.[4] About an hour later, a nearby Coptic-owned shop was also attacked, with another two deaths.[4]