Nine arrested for Egypt sectarian violence

Ahram Online, Sunday 5 Aug 2012

Security forces say they have apprehended the ringleaders of last week's strife in the Giza town of Dahshour; President Morsi has demanded a rapid investigation and prosecutions

Dahshur
Post the sectarian clashes in Dahshur on Wednesday (Photo: Ahram Gate)

Egyptian security forces said on Sunday they had arrested nine Muslim men suspected of taking part in the sectarian violence that shook Dahshour, Giza earlier last week.

Nine people were injured on Wednesday in clashes in the town 40 miles south of Cairo, in a continuation of violence that erupted the previous Friday.
 
Among the wounded was the Director of Criminal Investigations of Giza Security Directorate, Mahmoud Farouk.
 
Reports claimed the initial violence was sparked when a Coptic Christian laundry worker accidentially singed the shirt of a Muslim customer leading to an argument.
 
The disagreement escalated, drawing more people, and led to violence which left one Muslim, Moaz Mohamed Mohamed, seriously wounded. 
 
Mohamed died from his injuries on Tuesday, and clashes broke out again after his death.
 
Several houses belonging to Christian residents and two businesses in the town were reportedly burned down by enraged crowds.
 
More than 120 Coptic families were reported to have since left the town, fearing they would be violently expelled.
 
A similar incident happened in January when sectarian violence in the town of Amriya, Alexandria governorate resulted in the eviction of Copt families.
 
The Chief Detective of Giza's 'Badrasheen' centre, Said Abed, said just 15 people appeared to be responsible for the clashes.
 
On Thursday, President Mohamed Morsi ordered a rapid investigation and prosecution of those found to be involved in the first serious instance of Christian-Muslim violence since his July inauguration.
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