Military officers are currently surrounding a police station in New Cairo following clashes between them and policemen in front of it on Monday.
Both the military’s Commander of the Central Zone and the capital’s chief of police have made there way to the site in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
“The interior and defence ministry are coordinating together to end these clashes,” said Assistant Minister of Interior for Cairo Security Major General Osama Al-Sagheer.
“The clashes started after an army First Lieutenant had an altercation with a police Captain at a traffic roadblock on Saturday, which resulted in the military officer bringing 40 of his comrades and attacking the roadblock,” said Al-Sagheer.
Police officers filed a complaint with the military prosecution against the lieutenant. Over 200 military officers attacked their police station in protest Monday, demanding the station “hand over” the policeman involved in the initial altercation, he added.
Al-Sagheer dismissed reports that the police fired tear gas canisters at the military officers and said military police were on the scene to control the situation.
The initial clash at the roadblock Saturday happened after the lieutenant took offence to his car being stopped.
There are unconfirmed reports that several policemen were injured, police vehicles damaged and a military officer injured by gunshot.
