Egypt's top prosecutor has ordered the arrest of 11 people on charges of being involved in the sectarian violence that erupted late on Saturday in Minya's Beni-Ahmed village, which left at least one person dead and 17 wounded.

The prosecution accused the defendants of murder, attempted murder, arson, possession of unlicensed weapons and terrorizing citizens.

Sectarian tension between the village's Muslims and Christians erupted at a Coptic Christian's cafeteria on Saturday, escalating to both sides firing shots at one another and hurling stones and Molotov cocktails.

An eyewitness said that the confrontations led to the torching of seven residences and the destruction of five vehicles, a kiosk, a coffee shop, two supermarkets and a pharmacy.

All destroyed properties belonged to Coptic Christians, who make up Egypt's largest minority - estimated at about ten percent.

Tens of Muslims also attacked the Evangelical Church in the governorate and hurled stones at the residences of Coptic citizens following the spreading of a rumor that Coptic assailants torched a mosque in a neighboring village.