The President of Egypt of has declared a state of emergency following a series of terror attacks that hit the north African country Sunday.

Suicide bombers attacked worshippers at two Coptic churches in the country on Palm Sunday, killing 44 people and wounding many others.

President Abdul Fattah el-Sisi has declared the measure as a means to aid attempts to capture the perpetrators.

The BBC described the measure as aimed at allowing “authorities to make arrests without warrants and search people’s homes.”

The nation’s Parliament, where the President’s party has a majority, has to approve the measure first.

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ISIS have claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attacks, in which suicide bombers hit worshippers at the St George’s Coptic church in Tanta and St Mark’s Coptic church in Alexandria. Church goers had gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

44 people have been reported killed in the twin attacks so far.