Four Coptic churches in Sydney have been threatened by an international terrorist group.

The threats have struck fear into the Australian Orthodox community and prompted police bomb-squad searches of religious sites.

The Weekend Australian says it understands the four churches were among a list of more than 60 Coptic Orthodox churches worldwide that were targeted by the unnamed Islamic extremist group.

NSW police contacted Coptic church leaders in Sydney to warn them of the threats, which came ahead of Coptic Christmas celebrations on Friday.

The threats follow an attack that killed 21 people in a New Year's Eve bomb blast at a Coptic church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.

(.)Father Gabriel Yassa, of Archangel & St Bishoy Church, at Mt Druitt, in Sydney's west - one of the targeted churches - told The Weekend Australian the nation's Islamic leaders need to speak out against the threats.

At the very least, if they have not done so already.

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