While going out of church after Christmas mass, six Copts, said to be deacons, and a Muslim security officer who was guarding the church, were killed in a drive-by shooting in which two cars, according to eyewitnesses [and in official reports three cars], opened fire on the victims as they came out of the church in the Upper Egyptian town of Naj‘ Hammādī in Qena [600km south of Cairo]. Ten deacons were also wounded.
Six injured deacons, who are in their 20s and 30s, were transferred to Sohag University Hospital. They are said to be in a critical but stable condition. Most of them suffered bullet wounds to the chest and stomach.
On Thursday night the Egyptian press circulated reports by the interior ministry saying that based on witnesses' reports, officials have identified and caught the lead attacker, who according to them, is "a wanted criminal.” The Ministry of the Interior had declared that an unknown person led a drive-by shooting against Christian citizens in two commercial spots in Naj‘ Hammādī, taking advantage of Christian gatherings on Christmas Eve. The report also stated that the attacker, while escaping, shot again at people while passing by Saint Badābā Monastery located in an agricultural area near Naj‘ Hammādī.
The attack is believed to be linked to the alleged rape of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man last November in the town of Farshūt, near Naj‘ Hammādī; a theory supported by the interior ministry. However, Bishop Kiryllos of Naj‘ Hammādī said that the attackers were “targeting him” because he had refused to accept reconciliation about the recent incidents in Farshūt. Al-Misrī al-Yawm on Friday reported that Bishop Kyrillos accused Hamām al-Kammūnī of executing the attack. Hamām al-Kammūnī is the nick name of the wanted criminal Muhammad Ahmad Husayn, as the interior ministery report had earlier shown.
Bishop Kyrillos further stated that the attacker was shouting: “I avenge my Muslim sister.” Bishlop Kyrillos commented on Pope Shenouda III’s condemnation of the attacks and his rejection to accept reconciliation with the culprits, stressing the necessity to take the appropriate penalties against culprits.
In the papal residence, Bishop Armia, secretary of Pope Shenouda III, declared that the pope had not yet taken any moves concerning the attacks, and that he was waiting for the final report from Bishop Kyrillos.
It is worth mentioning that Pope Shenouda III received the Azhar Grand
Imām and Egypt’s Prime Minister, along with a group of governmental officials who came to offer their Christmas greetings to the pope on Thursday. Al-Misrī al-Yawm reported that Pope Shenouda did not tackle the issue of the attacks with his guests.
In other news , Najīb Jibrā’īl, head of the Egyptian Union for Human Rights announced that he would lead legal procedures against the culprits, and that he was willing to hold a press conference on Sunday to uncover the circumstances of the incident and call on President Mubārak to provide more protection to Copts.
Al-Misrī al-Yawm on Friday, January 8 reported that three thousand Christian youths attacked the hospital in Najc Hammādī, destroying some of the hospital windows and a handful of cars. They also reportedly detained the two pathologists, caused damage to shops near the hospital and attacked police cars. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses asserted that dozens of Christians shouted at the angry youth and called on them to stop.
Following the funeral of the slain Copts, Christian youths again went on the rampage in the streets around the church breaking car windows, snapping lampposts, torching cars and shouting against the government. The rioters, however, were dispersed by a deluge of police and security forces who were mustered to the scene in dozens of large trucks and military-style armored vehicles. The police reportedly used rubber bullets and sprayed the protesters with tear gas, which could be still smelled hours after the incident, to disperse the crowds. The streets were littered with shattered glass and ashes.
On Saturday, al-Misrī al-Yawm reported on the arrest of the three culprits who were hiding in a “mountainous area” between Farshūt and Naj‘ Hammādī. The three men are Muhammad Ahmad Hasan, known as Hamām al-Kammūnī, Qirshī Abū al-Hajjāj Muhammad ‘Alī and Hindāwī al-Sayyid Muhammad Hasan. The three men are currently being questioned.
It was also found out that al-Kammūnī was planning to kill more Christians by choosing the timing of Christians leaving two churches. Bishop Kyrillos had decided to start the prayers earlier than usual to avoid possible clashes. Al-Kammūnī did not know about the time change and executed his attack on his timing.
Al-Misrī al-Yawm of Saturday reported on Najīb Jibrā’īl’s calls to sue the governor of Qena and the head of its security apparatus’ at an international criminal court. He also stated that the National Council for Human Rights should send a fact finding committee to observe the assaults committed against Copts. Jibrā’īl claimed that his demands have already been signed by thousands of Copts.
On the other hand, Sawt al-
Ummah of Saturday reported three different scenarios of the attacks. The first story was that the attackers were in a dark green Fiat without a number plate on March 30 Street. Other witnesses stated that the car was a Peugeot and that the attack took place in 15 May Street. Others stated that the attackers were in a covered pickup car on Station Street.
Sawt al-
Ummah reported that security sources have declared that a well-known organization was behind the attacks. Other observers stated that the attacks were a reaction to pope Shenodua’s statements in a TV show that the church would not stop Father Zakaria Butrus from offending against Islam unless Muslims stop offending Christians.
Sawt al-
Ummah also reported that the security apparatus had called on the bishopric of Naj‘ Hammādī to finish the mass before 10:00pm. Sawt al-
Ummah suggested that the security forces might have been informed about the possibility of attacks. Coptic businesses neighboring the security department building and the bishopric in Naj‘ Hammādī had helped security forces in their missions against Islamist terrorists some years ago.
Sawt al-
Ummah also mentioned that the area neighboring the Bishopric of Naj
c Hammādī witnessed violent sectarian clashes during the last parliamentary elections when supporters of MP ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Ghūl clashed with the Coptic supports of his rival Ahmad Fakhrī Qindīl.
Sawt al-
Ummah also noted the reactions of Coptic expatriate organizations, who denounced the attacks.
[AWR will follow up on the incidents through daily releases.]
العربية