LUXOR: Police arrested on Friday three men suspected of carrying out a Coptic Christmas Eve drive-by shooting in southern Egypt that killed eight Coptic Christians, a security official said.
Police discovered the car used in the attack and then surrounded farm fields where the suspects were believed to be hiding late Thursday, before taking them into custody the next day, the official added on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
The three men are all known to have criminal records, according to the state media.
The gunmen opened fire on a crowd of worshippers leaving a church in the town of Nag Hammadi, 64 km north of the famed ruins of Luxor on Wednesday, a day before Egypt’s orthodox Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas.
A Muslim guard was also killed, and nine others wounded, including three in serious condition.
Thousands of Christians in Nag Hammadi went on a rampage Thursday protesting the attack and perceived discrimination against their community. They clashed with police and smashed ambulances and shop windows.
On Friday, though, officials reported that calm had been restored amid a massive security presence. One police officer, speaking to DPA on condition of anonymity, said police believed the shooters had been hired.
Egyptian Prosecutor General Abdel-Maguid Mahmoud arrived on Friday to take charge of investigations into the attack and there was also a major meeting of security heads to ensure that violence does not erupt anew, especially following weekly Friday prayers.
The Interior Ministry said it suspected that the Nag Hammadi attack was in retaliation for the alleged November rape of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man in the same town.
The local branch of the ruling National Democratic Party has asked leaders of both Muslim and Christian communities to help in ending violence, according to state media.
Christians, mostly Orthodox Copts, account for about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of some 80 million people. They celebrate Christmas every year on Jan. 7.
The Copts generally live in peace with Muslims although clashes and tensions occasionally occur, particularly in southern Egypt, mostly over land or church construction disputes.
The latest attack, however, was unusual in that it appeared to have been planned, in contrast to the spontaneous violence that had in the past erupted from disputes between Muslims and Copts.
