Christian homes in the southern Egyptian village of Soul were attacked Saturday evening by a mob of Muslims, according to unconfirmed reports.

Witnesses say the angry throng also set fire to the Saints Mina and George Coptic Church. A priest and two deacons were reported missing following the attack.

Read the latest on this story here, from CBN News International Reporter Gary Lane who is in the region.

Saturday's violence was reportedly triggered by a taboo love affair between a 40-year-old Coptic Christian and a Muslim woman.

Unconfirmed reports say the woman's father was killed Friday by his cousin for failing to restore the family's honor by slaying his daughter. The cousin, in turn, was murdered by the girl's brother in an act of revenge.

Blaming Soul's Christians for the killings, the village Muslims launched an assault on community's 12,000 Copts.

"Terrorized Copts have fled and some hid in homes of Muslim neighbors," Coptic activist Wagih Yacoub said.

According to CBN News International Correspondent Gary Lane, who is currently in the region, the police were called but did not respond.

CBN News has contacts in the area and is working to learn more details and will update this story as we confirm various reports.

Copts, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population of more than 80 million, have been targets of sectarian violence in the mostly Muslim country.

At least at least 53 incidents have taken place in the two years to Jan. 2010, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.