Amid continued misuse of power by low-ranking police officers, three brothers were reportedly injured on Saturday evening in Zefta in Al-Gharbyia governorate when an officer shot at them over a dispute concerning the boys’ play, according to the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.
A quarrel broke out between the officer’s family and three boys’ family. According to eyewitnesses, the officer opened fire on the family using his service weapon in front of Zefta Public Hospital, injuring the three boys.
The family intends to take legal action over the boys’ injuries.
The low-ranking police officer is a resident of Kafr Shamra village near Zefta. He was arrested after the shooting by the town’s inhabitants who delivered him to a nearby police station, according to Al-Ahram.
The Ministry of Interior has not yet issued a statement about the incident, nor was its media office available for comment at the time of print.
Recently, another low-ranking police officer killed a man and injured two other in New Cairo, after a quarrel erupted over the price of a cup of tea, according to the ministry’s narrative.
The incident provoked uproar from several political and public entities as it came after several consecutive violations committed by officers against citizens.
In April, a low-ranking police officer was sentenced to life in prison by Cairo Criminal Court. The case dates back to February when the officer shot and killed a taxi driver following a quarrel.
Outraged citizens called for the trial to be handled more swiftly than is expected for Egyptian courts. The victim’s family organised a large protest that surrounded the Cairo Security Directorate following the incident.
Since the beginning of 2016, there has been a string of cases of police abuse. However, the Ministry of Interior has repeatedly denied accusations of systematic and widespread abuse of state power.
