Two protesters, named Al-Sayed Abu Al-Maaty and Mohamed Al-Badawi, were shot dead Friday in Damietta after clashing with riot police, the Ministry of Interior said.
Another protester was injured and two policemen also sustained injures. The demonstration began after Friday prayers, but the protestors were confronted by police before the protest could gain momentum. The police claim the protesters were armed and exchanged fire with security forces.
The Ministry of Interior claimed that the two protesters were “members of the terrorist group, the Muslim Brotherhood”.
The injured policemen are employees of National Security Apparatus and the Investigation Bureau of Damietta.
Heavily armed security forces were deployed to Damietta following the clashes, in anticipation of more protests.
While the state continues to assert that all militants are members of the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, the group itself said that “any violence from the government” will always be met with “peace”.
Pro-Morsi groups such as the Anti-Coup Alliance (ACA) often organise marches and demonstrations following Friday prayers. The groups refuse to recognise the legitimacy of the government which followed Morsi’s ouster, and still refuses to recognise the government of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
