Renewed clashes between demonstrators and security forces on Friday have resulted in four deaths and 18 injuries according to the Ministry of Health.
The ministry reported that the four deaths occurred in the Cairo governorate. The bodies of two were transported to the Matariya hospital and the other two were transferred to the Zeinhom morgue, reported state-owned news agency MENA.
The Ministry of Interior said 193 people were arrested during Friday’s violence. Following Friday prayers “elements of the terrorist [Muslim] Brotherhood” attempted to “launch marches to block roads” and clashed with local residents in different areas, said the ministry’s Friday statement. It blamed the “terrorist elements” for firing live ammunition and bird shot, prompting the police to intervene.
The arrests were made across nine governorates including Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Suez, Kafr El-Sheikh, Beni Suef, Fayoum, Beheira and Suez. Some of those arrested were in possession of weapons, and in one case a bag was seized containing “six grenades and five improvised explosive devices”, said the ministry of interior.
These fresh clashes occurred the day after five people were killed whilst demonstrating during the one-year anniversary of the violent dispersal of the Rabaa Al-Adaweya and Al-Nahda Squares sit-ins. Human Rights Watch reported ahead of the anniversary that at least 904 people were killed on 14 August 2013.
