They dismantled an organised crime network behind a campaign of kidnappings, robberies, attacks and extortion against local Christians. A bishop in Assiut said that the action marked a decisive change of police policy. ‘For months and months, [Christian] families and entire communities in Assiut and the province have lived in anguish. Kidnappings took place every day. The perpetrators of these crimes were known to all, but when they [Christians]… reported them to the security forces, nothing happened,’ said the bishop.