The seven set fire to 13 shops owned by Egyptian Christians in the southern city of Isna late on Saturday. They also threw Molotov cocktails at a local church, the source said.

They told police they were acting in retaliation for the alleged rape last week of a Muslim girl by three Christians boys.

The three Christians were detained on Saturday and taken to a police station where an angry crowd of about 150 Muslims gathered, hurling stones and bottles.

"The seven were also demonstrating outside the police station, then they left the protest and started setting fire to property owned by Christians," the source said.

Agencies