Teenage Copt killed in the attacks Photo from AINA

Further violence broke out on January 8 in the southern Egyptian towns of Nag Hammadi and Bahjora, only two days after six Christians and a Muslim security guard were killed while exiting a Christmas Eve midnight mass service (click here for the story). Muslim mobs reportedly shouting "Allah is great" and "no God except Allah" used swords, gas cylinders and Molotov cocktails to loot and torch homes, shops and cars owned by Christians. Mary Om Boktor Kyrollos, a Coptic Christian, died from fumes when her home was set ablaze. According to eyewitnesses, water and electricity was cut off and when fire officials finally arrived on scene they had empty water tanks. In the days following the church shooting, sectarian clashes broke out between Christians and Muslims and with authorities. (Sources: Assyrian International News Agency, Voice of America)

Pray for peace in these troubled areas in Egypt. Pray that Christians will respond with Christ-like love and forgiveness to the assailants. Pray for those mourning the loss of loved ones.

To learn more about the plight of Egyptian Christians, click here.