CAIRO: The head of Egypt's Sharqiya governorate security, General Mohamed Nasser al-Antry, said Wednesday that the authorities will be “extremely tough” on the those who cause trouble or calling for it in the Meet Bashar village in Minya al-Qamh district in Sharqiya, where thousands of angry residents surrounded the Virgin Mary church believing a missing 16-year-old girl was hiding inside. Rania Khalil, whose Muslim convert father tried forcing her to marry a Muslim man, was missing since Saturday and people thought the church had a hand in her disappearance. Police said Khalil did not want to wed the man so she escaped her father's house and took refuge at one of her mother's family side until she was located by police. “We will meet violence with very tough measures,” said general al-Antry on Wednesday, referring to the attempts of setting the church on fire. “We will arrest troublemakers at once and protect the residents,” he added. Police said the clashes came to an end when the girl was located far from the church and the crowd surrounding the house of worship left. Army troops are now present at the scene making sure calm is prevailing and no violence is sparked once again. Eyewitnesses said some men set two civilian cars and one motorbike on fire Monday and a few young men climbed the wall of the church and threw rocks at the people inside. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/sihyl Tags: featured, Police, Sectarian, Sharqiya Section: Egypt, Latest News, Religion
