Giza Governor Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Azīz says that a permit was issued to build a service center, yet it came to the authorities’ attention that the building in question was being built in violation of the issued standards, and that builders were in the process of building a dome, indicating their intentions of turning the center into a church. Orders to discontinue building were ignored three times, the last of which came after a meeting with various priests, where it was agreed that necessary procedures should be followed in order for the building to continue being built as a church within two weeks. The builders once again ignored the orders and started throwing their construction tools at the authorities. They then gathered outside the ‘Umrāniyyah city council building and destroyed it.

Key Words: Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Azīz – Riots – Giza