15 More Arrested In Egypt’s Khosous Sectarian Violence Probe

Fifteen more have been arrested on Saturday for their alleged involvement in the sectarian clashes in Qalioubiya, Egypt, a security source tells Ahram Online.

This brings the total of those arrested in the violence that broke out in Al-Khosous, Qalioubiya governorate, just north of Cairo last weekend to 32.

The violence broke out after children allegedly painted a swastika on the wall of a prominent Islamic religious institute. Some Al-Khosous residents claimed that the children were Christian, while other news sources say the children were actually Muslim.

All witnesses agree, however, that the swastika – suddenly and inexplicably a popular symbol to scribble on walls – was likely mistaken for a Christian cross.

In the ensuing violence, which raged for hours, guns were fired and shops and buildings set ablaze, leading to the death of four Christians and one Muslim on Saturday morning in one of the worst sectarian flare-ups in months.

The total death toll reached six after another Muslim died in hospital days later.

Violence erupted again on Sunday outside St Mark’s Coptic Cathedral in Cairo’s Abbasiya district during a funeral for the four Christians killed in Al-Khosous on Saturday.

Two people were killed and almost 90 injured in the melee.

Ahram