With 10 dead after sectarian clashes, Egypt's Christians prayed amid increased security and calls for religious solidarity on Sunday morning.

Ten people were killed and 210 injured early Sunday morning when clashes broke out in Cairo’s Imbaba neighborhood.

Early into Sunday morning groups of Muslim and Coptic Christian youth gathered and formed human chains to protect other churches in the area in a show of unity and solidarity. The chanted “Eid wahda!” – a chant of solidarity, which translates to ‘one hand’ – in a refusal of attempts to foment greater sectarian tension between Muslim and Christian.

The incident began around 8pm on Saturday, when a group of Salafis, an Islamic sect which adheres strictly to the Quran, gathered outside an Imbaba church claiming a woman who had converted to Islam was being held inside against her will.

The demonstration continued and moved to the Church of St. Mary. Stones and Molotov cocktails were thrown and the church was set on fire. The Egyptian military fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd.

According to the Ministry of Health, 50 ambulances arrived at the scene to treat minor injuries and transfer more seriously injured persons to Imbaba Hospital and other hospitals in the area. Eleven people with serious injuries were moved to Qasr al-Aini hospital today for surgery.

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf postponed a trip to Bahrain because of the incident, calling for an emergency meeting of the cabinet. The Egyptian Center of Development Studies for Human Rights in Alexandria called for the resignation of Sharaf’s government over the incident.

Also in Alexandria, two youth movements staged a demonstration before the Library of Alexandria in protest of the violent clashes.

Egyptian military and police presence have been intensified in Ismalia and Qalubyia districts as a result of last night’s incident. In Ismalia, local communities have added support to protect churches as a sign of cooperation between Muslims and Copts.

The Egyptian military has announced the enforcement of a curfew around Imbaba’s churches. It has also arrested 190 people in connection with last night’s clashes. Those detained will face military trials.

In Upper Egypt governorates, including Beni Suef and Sohag, calmness prevailed as Christians prayed on Sunday morning amid increased security.