VIDEO: Egyptian Armed Forces Fire At Christian Monastery – 19 Injured – St. Bishoy Monastery

VIDEO: Egyptian Armed Forces Fire At Christian Monasteries, 19 Injured

9 Christians Killed, 150 Injured in Attack By 15,000 Muslims and Egyptian Army

The incident started when 500 Coptic demonstrators from Manshier Nasr, a village near the burned Monastery, were on their way to join the Coptic protest near the Egyptian TV Building, to show their solidarity with the Copts of the village of Soul in Atfif, who were forcibly displaced from their village and their church torched. Nearly 15,000 Muslims from the nearby area of Sayeda Aisha and Mokattam, who were armed with weapons including automatic guns, confronted the Copts.

Sectarian Clashes in Egypt Challenge Revolutionary Idealism

Some witnesses said that the Egyptian army had stood by for as long as four hours without intervening in the fighting. Officials said that all of those who were killed died of gunshot wounds and that 140 others were injured. Copts said that all of the victims were Christian adherents, but other reports said that as many as five Muslims were killed. “Unfortunately, our armed forces are not trained to do police operations,” Sayed said. “The army will not be the solution, but I think their presence could be greater to deter people.”

Ethiopia Sends Military to Stop Muslim Violence Against Christians

Since the attacks began on March 2, 2011, Muslims killed one Christian, wounded several others, burned down 55 churches, 30 Christian homes, a Bible school, a Christian orphanage, and a church office. More than 3,000 Christians are now displaced because of the violence.