Eight Coptic Christians in Egypt Shot Dead As They Left Christmas Mass

Egypt: January 08, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

An assassination attempt on the life of Bishop Kirollos in southern Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi has been foiled, but eight Copts were killed and 15 wounded as they came out of Church after celebrating the Coptic Christmas Eve midnight mass on Wednesday 6th January at 11.15 PM.

This was revealed in a story by Mary Abdelmassih and posted on the Assyrian International News Agency website (www.aina.org)

"I was the one intended to be assassinated by this plot, and when it failed the criminals turned round and started shooting and finishing off the young ones." Bishop Kirollos of the Nag Hammagi Diocese told Middle East Christian Association (MECA) today in an aired interview.

Abdelmassih wrote, "Eye-witnesses saw a dark-green 'Fiat' 131 without registration, one Peugeot 504 car and a half-truck. The cars were driven by masked men shooting randomly at the congregation as they came out of Church. The cars then went into three nearby areas (15th March Street, 15th May Street and Railway Station Street) shooting Copts.

"One eye-witness told MECA that those killed were mostly young men in their early 20s. He said that most people were killed or wounded near the church, but that the cars went around shooting in other areas, resulting in two more death, besides the wounded. It was reported that among the dead was a young man and his fiancé and a 14-years-old boy."

She said that another witness criticized the absence of security saying. "Security came as everything was over, instead of trying to catch the criminals; they were interrogating us about the description of the cars."

An eye-witness told Coptic News Bulletin from Nag Hammadi Hospital that the situation is dire, and there is a critical shortage of blood for transfusions.

"The Muslims promised us a wonderful Christmas, and I think the message is received now," he said.

Abdelmassih stated that the Bishop accused security services of negligence in dealing with the events which led to the massacre, and added: "Not one single security man intervened to prevent casualties." He criticized the absence of adequate State Security forces guarding the church, which is customary on such events and in view of the unrest which took place in the area in November 2009.

According to Wagih Yacoub of MECA Bishop Kirollos had recently received a death threat. Bishop Kirollos told Free Copts that the assassination attempt was meant to dispose of him in view of his standing position on the rights of the victims of the attacks on Christians in November 2009, in the areas of Farshout, Abu Shusha, Aerky and Alshokeify, part of the parish of Nag Hammadi.

Abdelmassih went on to say, "The State Security was heavily criticized at the time for the shameful role it played when Muslims assaulted Copts, in addition to looting and burning their businesses. One hundred and sixty three Copts were forcibly deported from their village by State Security following the events. These events were sparked by a rumor that a Copt had indecently assaulted a minor Muslim girl. Many Copts believe that the rape incident was fabricated by the Muslims to use it as a pretext to start violence against them. The accused Copt has not yet been charged by the police.

"A state of curfew was imposed tonight on the city of Nag Hammadi, and those inhabitants who were outside c ould not get back into their homes in the city."

She said that most eye-witnesses interviewed believe that there was collusion between those carrying out today's shooting and the State Security, as for the first time, none of them attended the Christmas Eve midnight mass, which is customary in those events. "They must have known in advance of the shootings and avoided the embarrassment of participating in the festivities inside church," said one witness.

All Christmas festivities have been canceled said the Bishop. "Copts are terrified and will be staying indoors."

Abdelmassih concluded by saying, "A similar incident occurred in April 2009 when Muslims opened fire on worshipers as they left the prayer service on Easter Eve in the village of Higaza, Qena Governorate, resulting in the death of Amir Stephanos (36 years) Ayub Said (22) and the injury of Mina Samir (35) Higaza village turned into a military barracks since April last."

News source: www.assistnews.net