Three churches attacked in historic Egyptian city

-14/04/06

Three Coptic churches in th


Three churches attacked in historic Egyptian city

-14/04/06

Three Coptic churches in the Egyptian city of Alexandria have been attacked, leading to the death one person and over a dozen injured, say police in the region.

The incidents took place simultaneously during Friday Mass, and the attackers then fled. Witnesses said clashes erupted between Christians and Muslims outside the churches, according the Associated Press news agency reported.

Hundreds of Christians had gathered outside the churches in protest at the attacks. Police were reported to be searching for three assailants, one for each assault, says the BBC.

Witnesses said that at least one attacker had been detained, but no arrests have been confirmed. An employee at one of the churches told the AFP news agency that people inside the church had fought back with sticks, but that the attacker had tried to escape through an underground passage.

The majority of Christians in Egypt are Copts, descended from the ancient Egyptians. Their church split from the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in 451AD because of a theological dispute over the nature of Christ.

On many issues the Copts are now aligned with the doctrine and ethos of Orthodoxy
They constitute an estimated 10% of the Egyptian population of some 70 million, and often complain of discrimination and harassment.

Egypt has seen widespread disputes over new electoral rules which seem to favour Islamist political parties.

Three people died in after Muslims attacked a church in Alexandria back in October 2005, following protests about a theatre performance which was said to offend them.


Three churches attacked in historic Egyptian city

-14/04/06

Three Coptic churches in the Egyptian city of Alexandria have been attacked, leading to the death one person and over a dozen injured, say police in the region.

The incidents took place simultaneously during Friday Mass, and the attackers then fled. Witnesses said clashes erupted between Christians and Muslims outside the churches, according the Associated Press news agency reported.

Hundreds of Christians had gathered outside the churches in protest at the attacks. Police were reported to be searching for three assailants, one for each assault, says the BBC.

Witnesses said that at least one attacker had been detained, but no arrests have been confirmed. An employee at one of the churches told the AFP news agency that people inside the church had fought back with sticks, but that the attacker had tried to escape through an underground passage.

The majority of Christians in Egypt are Copts, descended from the ancient Egyptians. Their church split from the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in 451AD because of a theological dispute over the nature of Christ.

On many issues the Copts are now aligned with the doctrine and ethos of Orthodoxy
They constitute an estimated 10% of the Egyptian population of some 70 million, and often complain of discrimination and harassment.

Egypt has seen widespread disputes over new electoral rules which seem to favour Islamist political parties.

Three people died in after Muslims attacked a church in Alexandria back in October 2005, following protests about a theatre performance which was said to offend them.