Knife attacks on Egypt churches
One person has been killed and at least 12 others injured by knife-wielding attackers at three churches in northern Egypt, police have said. The attacks happened in Coptic Christian churches in Alexandria.
The simultaneous incidents took place during Friday Mass. Police say they have three men in custody.
Witnesses said clashes erupted between Christians and Muslims outside the churches, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Hundreds of Christians had gathered outside the churches in protest at the attacks, the agency said.
According to police reports, two people armed with knives attacked three churches. A third man was prevented from entering another church by security guards.
But the government later said there had been one assailant, who had attacked worshippers in two churches and been stopped from entering a third, AP reported.
According to an interior ministry statement, the number of injured was at least five, the agency said.
An employee at one of the churches told AFP news agency that people inside the church had fought back with sticks, but that the attacker had tried to escape through an underground passage.