Last Friday, five “unidentified persons” kidnapped a Coptic Christian pharmacy owner at gunpoint in Sohag, Upper Egypt.
Soon after Friday mosque prayers, the people of the region were shocked to find a car pull up in front of the pharmacy and open live fire on it, before the assailants raided it and drove off with the kidnapped owner, one Mr. Marcos, a 52-year-old Copt, at gunpoint.
According to witness, the hail of gunfire created “panic” and “distress,” especially amongst the women and children of the area. Residents also add that the Muslims and Christians of the region have been getting along, and that this attack cannot have originated in the village, but was plotted and carried out by outsiders.
As of Saturday, the day after the abduction, friends and family said they still had not received any phone calls asking for ransom money, or any other indicators for motivation.
However, based on abundant precedent, including the fact that Copts—especially those perceived to have money—are regularly abducted for ransom money in Egypt, it is almost certain that the call is forthcoming.