The violence broke out after swastikas were drawn on the side of a mosque wall. Some Muslims claimed swastikas were drawn by Christian children, but the Qaliubia security forces commander, Mohamad Yousry, said it was two Muslim children who drew the swastikas and that the mosque Imam chided them. But some Christians and Muslims got involved in the incident and it escalated from there. He added that rumors of Christians drawing crosses on the mosque’s walls were circulated by Muslims.
Salafi Muslims began congregating in side streets near the Coptic Church of St. Georges. Calls for “Jihad” were heard from the minarets of a nearby mosque. Christians formed a human shield to prevent them from approaching. Witnesses said the Muslims shot at the church and disappeared into the side streets. According to Father Sourial Younan, the priest of St. Georges Church, the Copts were killed in front of the church by gunshots.
Later on Friday, extremists attacked the houses of three Copts and looted them. They then attempted to set fire to the houses, despite the presence of security forces.
Priests in Al-Khosous called several TV stations and NGOs in the evening to express their fear that if this incident was not confined it would spread to neighboring areas, including Ain Shams and Zoreibat. Father Younan warned of impending bloodshed.
Father Younan said he was locked inside the church with another priest and 50 Copts and stayed inside until the early hours of Saturday. “It was as if war had broken out. We peeped through the windows and saw Coptic youth slain in front of the church, and families carrying their wounded away.” He criticized the police, who arrived two hours late, and security forces, who arrived 5 hours late. “Destruction and arson took place in the presence of police, who were unable to control the attack.” He said that later there was an armored vehicle calling on inhabitants to stay in their homes so that they can deal with the terrorists.
There was street fighting throughout the night (video).
According to Coptic activists Nader Shoukry, the violence was prompted by direct incitement from the neighboring Muslim religious school, which belongs to Al-Azhar, to “purify the region of Christians.”
According to Father Younan, there was a feud between a Coptic family named Samir Iskandar and a Muslim family, which may have been the spark that caused the violence. He believes that what ignited Friday’s clashes was that Muslims from that family sexually harassed Coptic girls from the Iskandar family. “A fight between two families,” said Father Younan, “what has this to do with the church?”
The police arrested Alexander Samir Alexander, a Coptic lawyer and former Member of Parliament. The lawyer’s father said the police contacted him to bring his son, Naguib, and fears the security forces could use his son as a scapegoat to satisfy the extremists.
Alexander told MCN that extremists incited Muslims against Copts in the region. He added that they looted the houses of three of his relatives, and set them ablaze in the presence of security forces.
Alexander noted that the problem began when fanatics and thugs were incited to harass Christian girls for not wearing headscarves. When Christians objected, the situation escalated and mosques were used for fueling anger against Copts.
The Maspero Youth Union (MYU) denounced what it called the “farce and systematic persecution against Copts and targeting of them in the presence of security forces”.
“Do the police not know anything but to protect the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Moqattam and shoot the demonstrators?” asked Andrew Aweidah, MYU’s Coordinator General, expressing his astonishment that security forces have not intervened to protect Copts, whose houses are being looted and burnt.
Aweidah accused the Interior Minister of collusion and the use of such events for the benefit of the Brotherhood’s policies, especially as various civil forces announced holding mass protests in different squares of Egypt on Saturday against the Muslim Brotherhood and President Morsi.
Some politicians believe the incident was orchestrated by the regime to cover up the turmoil and demonstrations in the country. Mohamad Abu Hamed, a former MP, said “It is not possible that every time the regime wants to cover-up its failure, the Copts are attacked and their churches burned.”
Although the Governor and security forces claim everything is under control, Father Younan believes it is “the calm before the storm.” The Coptic priest called on Egypt’s military to intervene and protect the area from potential clashes that may erupt during the funerals.
Fr. Younan said residents are in a state of panic and Copts do not want to leave their houses, adding security forces would not be able to protect the people. It was also reported that Christian families have started leaving Al-Khosour for fear of renewed clashes.
Security forces said they are in the process of arranging a “reconciliation” meeting between the two parties, “during which the Copts are expected to give up all their rights as usual,” Said Coptic activist Wagih Yacoub.
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Edited from dispatches by AINA and MCN