Christians Under Attack

armed trucks, and blocked every access to it. Watani was informed of the attack late on Tuesday evening and immediately headed to visit the site. This reporter managed to sneak into the besieged area since he was taken to be one of the investigators, and walked through the dirt alleyways right up to the church. A licensed service building belonging to the church, and still under construction, stands opposite the church. Major Abdel-Megid Selim, deputy to the Interior Minister stood there; and several officers stood around. A few volunteer workers were gathered in the guestroom inside the church. Everybody was tight-lipped. Neither the security officials, the priests, nor the people would talk about what happened. But the following day, Watani talked to Nadi Sidqi and Fakhri Nabih, both members in the National Democratic Party’s committee of resolving disputes, and members in the church council. They said it all started with a personal argument between Bassem Mikhail who is 16 years old and a Christian, and Salah Abdel-Dayem who is 21 and a Muslim. Both Mikhail and Abdel-Dayem are construction carpentry workers and they were arguing over some work details as they stood together in the street near the church. The argument turned into a quarrel; passers-by joined and a street fight erupted. Violent Muslims attacked the church, throwing stones and damaging a glass door, but the guard quickly closed the gate. The police was called and immediately arrived. The police surrounded the site and tightened its grip on the neighbourhood. Samir Mansour, Nader Morqos, and Mohsen George, all members of the Alexandria’s Coptic Melli (Community) Council, closely followed up the situation, contacted the authorities, and attempted to resolve the trouble. Seven Muslims were detained and charged with assault, inducing assault, and destruction of property. Fifteen Copts were also detained, of whom four were referred to the prosecution, charged with assault, while the others were held in the police station pending investigation.