One person has reportedly been killed and 29 wounded when clashes erupted outside a Coptic cathedral in Cairo after funeral prayers were held for four Christians killed in sectarian violence.
There are conflicting reports on how exactly the clashes erupted. AFP, citing witnesses, writes that mourners who were chanting against the ruling Muslim Brotherhood were pelted with stones as they left the church. Egypt Independent writes that the violence broke out after unknown assailants attacked people attending the church service held at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the Abbasseya neighborhood in the Egyptian capital.
One person was reported dead at the nearby Demerdash hospital and 29 people were injured, reported satellite channel ONtv, citing the head of the ambulance services.
The victim was killed after having been struck by birdshot outside the cathedral, said the head of the Egyptian Ambulance Organization, Mohamed Sultan, reports Ahram Online.
Two of the injured are said to be in a critical condition.
Riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, “Men continue to flood the Cathedral, some holding sticks, rocks,” Egypt Independent reports in twitter. “Outside people chant against the regime amid periodic loud booming sounds.”
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