Violence kills 5 after kids caught drawing crosses on wall in Egypt
People inspect damage after a night of sectarian clashes between Christians and Muslims in Al-Khusus, a poor area in Qalyubia governorate, north of Cairo on April 6, 2013.
Children drawing crosses on a wall in Egypt late Friday reportedly triggered religious violence that killed five and injured at least that many more.
The kids were drawing on the wall of a Muslim religious institute in Khusus near Cairo, Reuters reported today.
The dead are four Christians and one Muslim after the two groups started shooting. State media said an Anglican church was also attacked and sections of it set ablaze.
A security source said a Muslim man encountered the children and an argument ensued as others arrived, according to Agence France-Presse.
Eventually, the argument escalated to assault rifles.
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“Five people were killed in the clashes, including four Christians. In addition to this, six others were wounded, at least two of whom were suffering gunshot wounds,” the source told AFP.
In response today, the Egyptian government pleaded for calm.
The government called on “all citizens to respect the law and shun any acts that can affect the security and stability of the country.”
There are also reports that those caught drawing the crosses tried to take refuge in a Coptic church, CNN said.
Egyptian security forces prevented the Muslim group from getting inside.
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