Deadly attack on Egyptian forces prompts security concerns

A two-day conference has been held in Qatar to discuss the plight of Arab Christians and the threats they are facing during wars and conflicts in the Middle East, during which Christian populations are estimated to have fallen to three to four percen

After one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in years, Egyptians have become more concerned over the state of security in their country.

According to the Egyptian government, 16 officers were killed in a desert ambush southwest of Cairo on Saturday, but other sources say more than 55 policemen died.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which came as the country faces a state of emergency over conflicts with several armed groups, including ISIL.

Al Jazeera’s Alexi O’Brien reports.