Three men in a car sprayed automatic gunfire into a crowd of churchgoers in southern Egypt as they left a midnight Mass for Coptic Christmas, killing at least seven people, the church bishop and the Interior Ministry said.
The ministry said the attack likely was in retaliation for the November rape of a Muslim girl by a Christian man in the same town. It happened in Nag Hamadi, about 40 miles from the ancient ruins of Luxor.
The head of provincial security, Mahmoud Gohar, told reporters that security agents had identified the lead attacker, an alleged known criminal, and his location. No arrests had been made.
Gohar said security was increased in the town and neighbouring villages, and checkpoints had been set up as tensions ran high among the town’s Christian population. Gohar said an angry crowd from a nearby church smashed two police cars shortly after the attack, which happened in the main street about 200 metres from the church. He said nine people were injured in the attack, including three who were in critical condition.
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