Winnipeg's Coptic Church is going ahead with Christmas celebrations Thursday night in the wake of a deadly terrorist attack in Egypt.
Several Winnipeg Egyptians lost friends and family in the New Year's Eve blast that killed up to 23 people in Alexandria, Egypt.
"It's hard to explain. It's shocking, just shocking news," said George Abraham with the Coptic Heritage Society of Manitoba.
Several Canadian churches are cancelling Christmas celebrations over security concerns but Winnipeg's Coptic Church will hold mass at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
The local Coptic Christians say they'll be extra cautious tonight and will be checking guests at the door but they're not afraid. Instead, they aim to fight the violence with prayer for the attackers.
Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas Eve on Jan. 6.
