A huge fire consumed the church of Mar Morqos in the town of Snoures in Fayoum some 100km south west Cairo last Tuesday. The civil defence forces were not able to put out the fire which had started in the early hours of dawn. The interior of the church was completely destroyed, including the benches and furniture, the icons, iconostasis and books.
Eyewitnesses say that small gas cylinders—commonly used as cookers—were found on the floor of the church in the aftermath of the fire. The church door had been broken. The Criminal Laboratory is investigating the incident, and the prosecution has heard the testimonies of the witnesses and priests of the church.
The 30-year-old Mar Morqos church, which lies within the precinct of the Coptic cemetery in Senouris, had been closed since the previous Sunday right after Mass.