The bloody persecution continues.

CAIRO (AFP) — Clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Saturday left five people dead and about 50 others injured, hospital and security officials said.

The two groups clashed in the northwestern district of Imbaba after Muslims attacked the Coptic Saint Mena church to free a Christian woman they alleged was being held against her will because she wanted to convert to Islam.

A parish priest, Father Hermina, told AFP the dead were Copts who died when “thugs and (Muslim fundamentalist) Salafis fired at them” in the late afternoon attack.

The Gospel had been laid on a body wrapped in a sheet that was lying inside the church. The church floor was bloodstained as wounded Christians were brought in the church for treatment.

Outside the church, located in the poor working-class neighbourhood of Imbaba, military police parked several armoured cars to block off Muslim protesters from the church.

They fired their guns into the air as Christians in front of the church and Muslim protesters down the street hurled stones at each other. The Muslim protesters threw firebombs, one of them setting an apartment near the church on fire.

“Oh God! Oh Jesus!” chanted the Coptic protesters. They scuffled with soldiers, blaming them for not doing enough to protect them.

Hermina and witnesses said the Muslims had tried to storm the church earlier in the day, claiming the Christians were holding a Muslim woman.

The injured, who suffered from fractures and gunshot wounds, were taken to four city hospitals, medical officials said.