Assaults Targeting Egyptian Coptic Community
HOWELL: Protests in Iran, they're being called the largest political protests in that nations since 2009. Anti-government demonstrations have taken root across the country. This all started Thursday when rallies took place about the economy. People frustrated there about surging prices for food and for gas. By Friday, there was a massive outpouring of political dissent. Now this is a rare sight anywhere in Iran, let alone in seven separate cities, including the capital, Tehran. The U.S. president applauded the demonstration tweeting this, "Many reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with regime's corruption and its squandering of the nation's wealth to fund terrorism abroad. The Iranian government should respect their people's rights, including the right to express themselves. The world is watching," says President Trump. In Egypt, ISIS has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Coptic church near the capital city of Cairo. Nine people were killed on Friday when a gunman opened fire as people left the church service. Grief-stricken families held a joint funeral for the victims. This is just the latest in a string of attacks on minority Coptic Christians in Egypt this year. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has details for us.</s>SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER: Egypt is reeling after another attack on its Christian minority today in Cairo. Let's go through what happened. Shortly after Friday services ended at the St. Mina (ph) Coptic Church in Idlan (ph) in Greater Cairo, as worshippers were leaving the church, two gunmen opened fire on the crowd; armed with machine guns police fired back. A gun battle ensued between them that lasted for about 15 minutes according to the archbishop of the church. Nine people were killed. Among them, one police officer and separately one of those two gunmen was killed as well. The second one was arrested. He is the man that authorities have described as a known terrorist, one who has been involved in previous attacks. And they say he had a bomb with him and he had intended to enter the church and detonate this explosive device. Still, the attack was bloody and brazen, taking place during the day in Cairo. It is absolutely terrifying for residents but it is of particular concern to the Coptic Christian community in Egypt. Remember this is a minority group that makes up about 10 percent of the country's population. And they have long said that they're treated as second class citizens in Egypt. But the past few years have been particularly bloody for the Coptic minority in Egypt. As President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has waged war on his opponents, as ISIS has taken a hold in the Sinai, as terrorism has been on the rise in the country, more and more of these types of attacks on Coptic Christians have taken place. Remember one of the deadliest attacks on Christians in Egypt's history happened this year on Palm Sunday. That was in April; two churches were bombed, almost 50 people killed. But it's important to remember that it's not just Egypt's Christian community that is suffering terrorism. Just last month, a mosque was attacked by ISIS. Almost 300 people lost their lives. The entire country really reeling from terrorism. President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has issued his condolences to the victims of this attack. He has said it will only strengthen the country's resolve in the face of terrorism. But during this holiday season, when people are on edge, of course Christmas for the orthodox community will be coming up in January. During these times they want to feel safe. But they're going to point to attacks like this one to say the state isn't doing -- -- enough to protect them -- Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, Paris.</s>HOWELL: Salma, thank you for the reporting. All this year, we've seen some stunning reporting on the world's biggest stories. Our picks for the top seven stories of 2017 -- just ahead. Plus, many places in the United States will see one of the coldest New Year's Eves in years. We'll tell you just how cold it will get and why that's not the only thing that officials in New York are concerned about. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM life from Atlanta, Georgia, this hour, simulcast on both CNN USA here in the States and CNN International worldwide. Thank you for being with us. More news right after the break.