The Port Said Criminal Court sentenced 20 defendants in the Port Said prison clashes trial to life in prison on Saturday.
Another 12 defendants received 10-year prison terms, while 18 received 5-year terms.
The defendants are accused of killing police officers Ahmed Al-Balky and Ayman Abdel Azim, and 40 others, as well as injuring over 150 people in attempting to break into the Port Said Prison between 26 and 28 January 2013.
The Armed Forces and riot police were deployed to Port Said early Saturday in anticipation of angry reactions to the verdict.
In January 2013, a court sentenced several Port Said residents to death and issued others harsh prison sentences in charges related to the deaths of hundreds of Al-Ahly fans, in what is known as the “Port Said massacre” of February 2011.
The initial verdict was welcomed with mixed reactions. Families of Al-Ahly victims cheered the verdict, while, in Port Said, violence erupted for three days.
Angry protesters and the families of the sentenced prisoners gathered outside the Port Said Prison where the prisoners were being held. The family members are accused of attempting to break into the prison.
