Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: RNS

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/162/story_16205_1.html

On March 9, 2005 Beliefnet reported, "tense feelings between Coptic Orthodox Christians and Muslims over the mid-January killings of four Egyptian-American Christians in Jersey City, N.J., seem unlikely to vanish quickly despite the arrests of two men authorities say murdered the family to cover up a robbery. Many Muslims and Copts expressed relief after prosecutors Friday (March 4) announced the arrests of two convicted drug dealers and said the motive was money, not religion. Some in the Coptic community said they will withhold judgment until more information comes out or the defendants are convicted. Area Muslims, meanwhile, remain upset after being put on the defensive for the last seven weeks as many Copts and even some national commentators speculated that Muslim extremists were behind the killings."