Police in France have opened an investigation into threats against Coptic Christian churches in the country days after an attack in Egypt killed 21 people.

The Coptic church of Saint Mary and Saint Mark in the Paris suburb of Chatenay-Malabry had reportedly been threatened. Coptics in Germany have also asked for protection after receiving similar threats.

The Austrian interior ministry on Monday announced that that country's Coptic community was put under protection after the discovery of a list of 150 Coptics targeted for attack.

In Italy, Barnaba El Soryani, who is a Coptic religious leader in the northern city of Turin, in an interview with Adnkronos International said he has "asked for protection by the Italian police during a prayers" that will take place on 6 January, the day that marks Christmas Eve on the Coptic calendar.

The New Year's Eve suicide bombing outside a church in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria church followed an attack on 31 October on a Baghdad church which killed 58 people including two priests and injured 80 others and drew international condemnation.

Threats in France prompted anti-terrorism police in Paris to launch an investigation that can lead to terror-related charges.

AKI