Around 100 people have reportedly been killed as new violence erupted in central Cairo and across Egypt on Friday on what the Muslim Brotherhood calls a “day of rage.” Today’s protests were against the bloody crackdown by the military-backed government on Wednesday where around 600 were reported dead.

The Guardian reportedly saw “dozens of bodies lying on the bloodstained floor of Cairo's al-Fath mosque on Ramses Square, which had been turned into a field hospital. Medical volunteers were overwhelmed by the scale of the blood-letting.”

The interior ministry had warned that security forces have been authorized to fire live ammunition at anyone targeting police and state institutions.

Morsi supporters have directed unprecedented attacks towards Egypt’s Coptic Christians with the destruction of 30 churches and campaigns of intimidation, heightening the sectarian tensions in the country. 

Although Morsi’s removal had broad support, some of his allies have scapegoated Egypt’s Coptic Christian community (10% of the population) for supporting his overthrow. 

Christians in Egypt have long felt a deep sense of persecution, which was intensified during the brief period of Brotherhood rule. And the rise in attacks is being viewed through the prism of past, unresolved grievances. 

Reas full story here.

 

Reach Executive Producer Syuzanna Petrosyan here. Follow her on Twitter.