At least ten people were killed when two Egyptian families opened fire on each other in the northern Delta region Thursday — one of a number of recent clashes between citizens over land disputes. The ‘war’ erupted after the families began arguing over the ownership of a piece of property, a security official said on condition of anonymity. He said that both families were well-armed and began firing at one another. “Ten people were killed and 17 wounded during the shooting between the Kallaf an d Barbari families in Mit Al Attar in Qalyubiah governorate,” the official said. The land consists of 120 acres (or 48 hectares) of suitable soil for farming, the official added. “Police rushed to the scene and there were several arrests,” the official reported. Egypt is in the throws of frustration, and land disputes such as this one are an all too frequent occurrence. Such disputes in southern Egypt have sparked international media coverage due to families of Coptic Christians have fought Muslims in what some call sectarian violence. Rising food prices and low wages are a major cause of the unrest.
