Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said one man was killed and others injured in clashes between anti-government protesters and police forces on Friday in Matariya neighbourhood in Cairo.
Abdel Ghaffar told Daily News Egypt that the deceased is a 42-year-old male, and was sent to the Matariya governmental hospital, adding that the number of injured may increase.
The Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, confirmed the incident, adding that the deceased’s name is Mohamed Hassan and was killed after “security forces attacked a demonstration coming out from a mosque”.
However, the Salafi Front claimed so far five protesters were killed in Matariya, adding that police and army forces are dispersing the protests.
An eyewitness told Daily News Egypt that police and army forces tightly secured the areas of Ain Shams and Matariya, and that military helicopters are flying over the districts.
Protests started after the end of the Friday prayers, with protesters carrying copies of the Quran. The ultraconservative Salafist Front had called for mass protests this day to impose Islamic rule and preserve Egypt’s “Islamic identity”.
Earlier on Friday, two army personnel died in drive-by shootings.
