The terrorist attacks on the Two Saints Church in Alexandria provoked a slurry of mixed messages on the new media, reports Ahmed Abu Ghazala In Egypt, traditional print and broadcast coverage of New Year's attack on the Two Saints (Al-Qidisayn) Church in Alexandria called on citizens to unite in the face of terrorism. The new media dealt with the calamity in a different way. All the tools of the new media were used extensively in covering the terrorist attack, which killed most of them Christians, including news organisations' websites, social networks, and cell- phone's short messages. Newspapers' online outlets, websites and Facebook and Twitter accounts were active in covering updates of the terrorist attack which left 22 dead and more than 75 injured, the vast majority Coptic Christians. On Youtube tens of videos were posted showing casualties, rescue operations, officials' reactions as well as the angry demonstrations that followed, most of them shot on cell-phones. Newspapers' outlets saw increased traffic. Al-Masry Al-Yom announced the number of visits to its website and Facebook page had exceeded one million. Most reader feedback reiterated calls for unity. Many posted comments about the role of the government in securing the citizens, how Islam forbids violence, and whether foreign states were behind the attack. While similar comments appeared on Youtube, they were punctuated by Muslim and Christian users attacking each other. Some Christians accused Islam of promoting terrorism while Muslims accused Christian clerics of encouraging hatred. The United States and Israel were both accused of being behind the bombing. While some Western users responded harshly to the accusations most Egyptians refused the comments, suggesting the situation be analysed logically. On Facebook hundreds of users exchanged their profile pictures for the national symbol of unity, the Crescent and the Cross, used in the 1919 Revolution against British occupation. "It is just a simple way to show our solidarity," said Ahmed Shawqi, a Muslim. Although the act was welcomed by most people, some complained it provided nothing in the way of concrete help to Christians. Hardliners refused the profile exchange, using Facebook and Blackberry Messenger to claim that Islam prohibits the holding or drawing of a cross. Such a message was opposed by Ahmed El-Tayeb, rector of Al-Azhar University, who called on all Egyptians to show their unity by holding and displaying images of the crescent and cross. Twitter was widely used to disseminate news of the attack, while SMSs provided practical information, including the location of blood donor centres for those who wanted to give blood to help the victims. Later messages became less focussed, disseminating rumours of threats to attack other churches and shopping centres. But perhaps the most telling posting was that of 22-year-old Mariam Fekri, one of the victims. Five hours before the attack she had written on her Facebook wall: "2010 is over... this year has the best memories of my life... really enjoyed living this year... I hope 2011 is much better... I have so many wishes in 2011... hope they come true... plz god stay beside me & help make it all true." Her message was reposted by a group called Shohadaa Keniset Al-Qidisayn (The Two Saints Church Martyrs).
