Security forces have regained control of the Minya village of Delga in Upper Egypt, according to the Interior Ministry's Criminal Investigations Department director Sayed Shafiq.
Army and police troops raided the village on Monday morning after weeks of Islamist control, with reports that the local Christian population had been living in terror.
"Terrorist elements attempted to isolate the village from the rest of the governorate," Shafiq claimed.
Shafiq told Al-Masry Al-Youm Tuesday that criminal elements set churches on fire as well as a police station.
He pointed out no casualties resulted from the raid.
Shafiq denied rumors about police officers who helped Jama'a al-Islamiya leader Assem Abdel Maged to escape Minya.
Shafiq said security forces are currently assessing the situation in Kerdasa after it has been circulated that armed elements are looking to control the area.
Security forces will look to free areas of Egypt from the "grip of terrorists," Shafiq said.