Assiut criminal court sentenced 4 defendants to death penalty on charges of murder, kidnapping and resisting authorities.

Police in Assiut arrested 6 defendants on charges of kidnapping a Coptic child in Sahil Salim village, Assiut, for ransom.

Masked men kidnapped a Coptic student called Kyrolos Reda in front of his school in Assiut today. Eyewitnesses said that the child was hit on the head first before he was forced into their car. Police were reported and the matter is currently under investigation.

Egyptian police and army are taking extra security measures to secure celebrations of Christmas. Abdel Basset Denkul, Assiut director of security, said that cooperation with Egyptian army comes to secure the celebrations as well as public and private properties.

Tight security measures were taken by Assiut directorate of security around the monastery of the Virgin Mary Jebel Dronka to coincide with the celebrations of the feast of St. Mary.