The police said it was a short circuit, but Copts United says “unidentified people” set the shops on fire. There is only one group of “unidentified people” who would have any interest in doing such a thing, and for which police would have sympathy.
“4 shops owned by Copts are burned in Mallawy,” by Nader Shoukry, Copts United, December 1, 2014 (thanks to Maged):
Unidentified people have set four shops owned by Copts in Mallawy, Minya governorate, on fire.
Firefighters were hardly able to extinguish the fire. Later, police announced the fire was caused by electric short circuit.
Tight security measures were taken by police in Egypt to deal with demonstrations by the Islamists on November 28.