This AP story suggests that both sides threw birdshot and Molotov cocktails and that the Christians began the conflict, but this is wildly unlikely. Muslim mobs brutalize Christians in Egypt on an increasingly frequent basis. The Christian community is small and embattled and doesn’t go around picking fights. “Egypt Muslim-Christian Clashes Leave 1 Dead,” from the Associated Press, May 18 (thanks to all who sent this in):
CAIRO “” Egyptian security officials say clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria left one man dead of a heart attack.
Officials say the clashes in the city’s el-Dekheila suburb erupted when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman.
Sounds like exactly the sort of charge that Islamic supremacists would trump up: their mythology is full of licentious, sexually predatory non-Muslims looking for their chance to prey upon good, modest Muslimas.
Residents of the area fired birdshot and threw Molotov cocktails at one another during the Friday night fighting.
Police say Christian resident Sherif Sedky died of a heart attack during the clashes. Police forces were beefed up around the local church Saturday in case of further violence….