Church Renovation Prompts Muslim Mob Attack in Egy

Assyrian International News Agency reports that interfaith violence continues to simmer in Egypt. A Muslim mob reportedly held a church congregation captive during theirTuesday evening service until the village mayor and police dispersed the mob. The Church of St. George in the village of Nazlet Albadraman recently obtained the necessary permits and began restoring the church's tower, apparently irritating the town's Muslim population. The incident began after a Muslim man accused the church on its front steps, saying, "This way you are causing sectarian sedition, you have to stop your building works." The mob broke church windows and vandalized cars, shops and Coptic homes before security forces intervened. Pastor Habib Ghattas told reporters that he had to call state security as well as the town's security forces, but "they did take their time arriving on the scene, as usual."