Clashes erupted on Tuesday morning between Muslim and Christian village residents in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Qena. The violence left over a dozen houses, stores, and a water pump damaged, prosecution authorities have reported.
According to security officials, a group of young Muslim men set around ten Christian homes ablaze on Tuesday in the village of Nawahed after rumors circulated that a Christian man was having an affair with a local Muslim girl. The couple were seen chatting with each other near a cemetery.
All the damaged properties belonged to Christians.
Security has been intensified in the area for fear of more violent incidents. The local council in the nearby town of Abu Tesht is to estimate the financial value of the damaged properties.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
