CAIRO — Gunmen killed at least seven people and seriously wounded three in a drive-by shooting outside a church in southern Egypt as worshipers left a midnight Mass for Coptic Christmas early today, according to the church bishop and security and hospital officials.
The attack took place in the town of Nag Hamadi in Qena province, about 40 miles from the famous ancient ruins of Luxor. A security official said two gunmen drove by a group as they were walking out of the Virgin Mary church and sprayed gunfire randomly into the crowd.
Christians, mostly Coptic, account for about 10 percent of Egypt’s predominantly Muslim population. As Islamic conservatism gains ground, Christians have increasingly complained about discrimination by the Muslim majority.
Qena is one of Egypt’s poorest and most conservative areas.
