1 killed, 4 injured in sectarian clash in Upper Egypt

 
August 9 , 2011
 
Secretarian clashes on Sunday left a Copt killed, four Muslims injured and six houses burned in Minya, Upper Egypt.
Eyewitnesses said fighting erupted between residents of the village of Hawarta, which has a Muslim majority, and Christians from Farag Allah village.
They said the confrontations started with a fight between a Christian car driver and a Muslim pedestrian in front of a mosque in Hawarta.
The driver reportedly fired gunshots at the mosque, infuriating the congregation which was performing the night prayer.
Young men from Hawarta chased the driver to Farag Allah village, clashing with residents there, the eyewitnesses said.
A number of houses caught fire before civil defense teams managed to put the blaze out and gain control over the situation in the village.
Security sources said army and police forces went to both villages to prevent future clashes.
They said security authorities are stepping up efforts to identify the car driver and arrest him, along with nine others involved in the unrest.