At least six Coptic Christians have been shot dead by unknown assailants outside a church in southern Egypt, regional media reports say.
The drive-by attack happened in the city of Nag Hammadi as the victims were leaving midnight mass on Coptic Christmas Eve.
Another 10 people are reported to have been injured, three of them seriously.
Some reports put the death toll at seven.
A number of reports say the attack may have been revenge for the rape in November of a 12-year-old Muslim girl by a Christian man.
Coptic Christians make up some 10% of Egypt's population of 80 million.
MOSCOW, January 7 (RIA Novosti)
