In the latest assault on Egypt's religious minority increasingly targeted by Islamist militants, at least 36 people were killed and more than 100 injured in bomb attacks on two Coptic churches on Palm Sunday.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, which come a week before Coptic Easter and in the same month that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Egypt.

The first bombing, in Tanta, a Nile Delta city less than 100 km (60 miles) outside Cairo, killed at least 25 and injured at least 78, the Ministry of Health said.