Beni Suef Security Department endorsed three teams of anti-riot police to al-Wastī City to secure Saint George Church after threats from residents of the city. Hundreds of al-Wastī residents roamed the streets of the city, demonstrating on behalf of a Muslim college student who disappeared.

Protesters passed in front of Copts’ stores and demanded them to close their shops by 3PM after a young Coptic man was accused of being involved in the young woman’s disappearance.

Sources said that the church gave instructions to Copts to close their stores after the security apparatuses failed to find the young woman, Ranā Hātim Kamāl, 21, a student of arts.

‘Antar Sayf, grandfather of Ranā, said that the family called the church to return his grandchild in 24 hours after being assured that her disappearance is related to a Coptic young man.

However, Ranā’s mother defended the church and asked not to involve it in her daughter’s disappearance (Ashraf Mustafá, al-Tahrīr, Mar. 21, p. 4). Read original text in Arabic.