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Egypt church attack kills Copts Egypt church attack kills Copts
(about 6 hours later)
At least five Coptic Christians have been killed in a drive-by shooting outside a church in southern Egypt, officials say. At least six Coptic Christians and a security official have been killed in a drive-by shooting outside a church in southern Egypt, officials say.
The shooting came as worshippers left the church in Naj Hammadi after a midnight mass on Coptic Christmas Eve.The shooting came as worshippers left the church in Naj Hammadi after a midnight mass on Coptic Christmas Eve.
Unidentified gunmen sprayed gunfire indiscriminately into the crowd, officials said. A car pulled up and gunfire was sprayed into the crowd.
Two Muslims passing the church were among 10 people reportedly injured in the attack. Officials say they suspect the attack is in revenge for the rape of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man in the town in November.
There were five days of riots in the town, with Christian properties torched and damaged, following the rape.
'Machine-gun shots'
The church's Bishop Kirollos said there had been threats in the days leading up to the Christmas Eve service - a reason he decided to end his mass an hour earlier than normal.
"For days, I had expected something to happen on Christmas Eve," he told the Associated Press.
EGYPT'S CHRISTIANS About 10% of Egypt's 80 million people are ChristiansEgyptian Christians are known as Copts, a word derived from the Greek word Aigyptos, meaning EgyptThe Christian community is divided into: Coptic Orthodox, Coptic Catholics, Coptic Evangelicans (Protestants) and other minoritiesThey have their own pope, Pope Shenouda III Coptic Christians battle for ID cards BBC: Coptic Orthodox Church
He said he left the church minutes before the attack.
"A driving car swerved near me, so I took the back door," he said. "By the time I shook hands with someone at the gate, I heard the mayhem, lots of machine-gun shots."
Two Muslim passers-by were among 10 people reportedly injured in the attack.
Naj Hammadi is 40 miles (64km) from Luxor, southern Egypt's biggest city.Naj Hammadi is 40 miles (64km) from Luxor, southern Egypt's biggest city.
Coptic Christians account for about 10% of the Egypt's population of 80 million. Coptic Christians - who make up 10% of Egypt's 80 million population - have complained of harassment and discrimination.
They have complained of harassment and discrimination, though sectarian violence is unusual. Some Copts argue that previous attacks on them have gone unpunished or have drawn light sentences.
Most Christians in Egypt are Copts - Christians descended from the ancient Egyptians.
Their church split from the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in 451AD because of a theological dispute over the nature of Christ, but is now, on most issues, doctrinally similar to the Eastern Orthodox church.