Thirteen businesses belonging to Christians, as well as the façade of a church, have been attacked by Muslim extremists during the last week in Isna in southern Egypt.

According to Egyptian security officials, at least seven Muslims have been arrested as suspects in the attacks.  The AGI news agency reported that “tensions between the local Christian and Muslim communities increased last Wednesday when a group of Islamic followers surrounded a Christian-owned business and destroyed the windows, probably as an act of revenge.”

AGI also reported that two days earlier, a Muslim man was arrested and then released after he was accused of robbery by a Christian man.