New Christian killings spark riot fears in Egypt

There were fears tonight Egypt could face a new wave of Christian rioting after a lethal gun attack.

An elderly man was shot dead by a gunman who boarded a train from a major Christian community and opened fire apparently at random.

Five others were wounded.

The attack could bring a Christian backlash in a community still traumatised by a New Year’s attack on a church that killed at least 21 worshippers as they were leaving Mass.

That set off three days of fierce riots by Christians.

The gunman today boarded the Cairo-bound train at the town of Samalout in Egypt’s central Minya province.

The train came from Assiut, home to a substantial Christian community and a famous monastery.

Police arrested the gunman as he tried to flee.

The attack comes as Egypt bristled at international expressions of concern over the safety of its Christian population and recalled its ambassador to the Vatican following comments by the pope who said governments must take effective measures to protect religious minorities.