The Islamic State claimed responsibility for carrying out horrific bombing attacks in Egypt that targeted Coptic Christians, in two different churches, as they celebrated Palm Sunday.

At least 43 people were killed and more than 100 others wounded in the two blasts that marred the Christians’ celebration of the beginning of Holy Week. The first explosion occurred inside St. George church in Tanta and claimed the lives of at least 27 people ,while wounding at least 78 others. As the country reeled from that explosion, reports of a second blast targeting St. Mark’s Cathedral in Alexandria began surfacing. At least 16 were killed in the second attack, while at least 41 others were wounded. The blast in St. Mark’s occurred minutes after Egypt’s Coptic church leader, Pope Tawadros, left the building following his part in the Palm Sunday service.

“The immunity of a place of worship, no matter the religion it belongs to, cannot be violated, and the bloodthirsty killing of innocent worshippers cannot ever be forgiven.”

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“So sad to hear of the terrorist attack in Egypt. U.S. strongly condemns. I have great … confidence that President Al Sisi will handle situation properly,” President Donald Trump said in two tweets Sunday, just one week after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had traveled to the U.S. to meet Trump for the first time.

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Images of the bloody aftermath of the blasts showed copious amounts of blood smearing the churches’ halls, shards of broken furniture and piles of rubble.

“Either a bomb was planted or someone blew himself up,” said Ahmad Deif, the provincial governor, according to Sky News.

Susan Mikhail, who lives next to the St. George church, told the Associated Press that “Deacons were the first to run out of the church. Many of them had blood on their white robes.”

Mehmet Gormez, the head of religious affairs in Turkey, sharply condemned the “cursed” acts of violence in a statement, saying that, “The immunity of a place of worship, no matter the religion it belongs to, cannot be violated, and the bloodthirsty killing of innocent worshippers cannot ever be forgiven.”

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The Islamic State swiftly claimed responsibility for the two attacks via its news agency, Aamaq, although it offered no further information. The terrorist organization dubs Christians to be “infidels” and has targeted Christians and churches specifically in a myriad of other cases. Just last December, an Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 28 Coptic Christians in Cairo.

These two new attacks also raise security concerns regarding Pope Francis’ upcoming trip on April 28 for his first visit to Egypt.

During el-Sisi’s visit with Trump, he agreed to be a “strong partner” with the U.S. in the global fight against the rise of radical Islamic terrorism.

“We will do that together, we will fight terrorism and other things,” Trump told reporters following the two leaders’ meeting. “I look forward to a very long and strong relationship.”