(Photo Hamed Abu El-Dahab)
At least 11 were killed during clashes between police and protesters in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and Beheira, Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, told Daily News Egypt.
In Cairo heavy clashes took place in both Ain Shams and Matariya districs, where three men were reported killed.
In Matariya, the interior ministry said that a car exploded after it was torched by fireworks, while in Ain Shams, the SAC spokesman said that a man was killed after being shot in the head by live rounds during clashes.
In Alexandria, a 53-year-old man died from injuries sustained during clashes between police forces and protesters in Alexandria, Abdel Ghaffar said.
The Ministry of Interior announced the killing of another man who was allegedly “a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and carried a machine gun”.
The ministry added in a Sunday statement that two “elements of the Brotherhood” were carrying arms, and firing randomly.
“Immediately police forces dealt with them, which led to the death of one [person],” the statement said. Two suspects were also arrested by police forces.
The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) announced that the protester was killed after a demonstration was dispersed by the armed forces in the district of Awaed in Alexandria.
(Photo by Hamed Abu El-Dahab)
In Beheira, SAC reported that two protesters were shot and killed in demonstrations, while earlier Sunday, the interior ministry said two unidentified men were killed while planting an explosive device near an electricity transformer in Beheira.
The rest of causalities happened in Giza, during clashes between protesters and police.
Abdel Ghaffar confirmed that another 30 were injured.
No official count of arrests has been released by the interior ministry until the time of print.
SAC is planning to escalate protests and vowed to “avenge the deceased”.State media reported that tens of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s supporters were prevented entrance to Tahrir Square by security forces.
Other protests are taking place in the Giza and Menufiya, “repeating anti-army and -police chants, which provoked the locals to clash with them”, according to state media.
SAC posted a picture of an overturned police truck on the side of the road in the city of Balteem.
(Photo by Hamed Abu El-Dahab)
Earlier Sunday, Armed Personnel Carriers closed Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, while police forces closed Al-Nahda Square and all roads leading to both squares, in anticipation of calls for protests from different revolutionary groups to stage anti-government demonstrations.
Assistant to Minister of Interior General Abdel Fattah Osman said Saturday night in a phone interview with privately owned TV channel Al-Youm: “All celebrations to commemorate the 25 January Revolution are delayed based on the decision of the Egyptian cabinet, in mourning of the death of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.”
Celebrations were supposed to take place in Cairo Stadium and in some major public squares in commemoration, but were delayed by the government.
Osman added that protests are not permitted, whether they are anti- or pro-government. “Our forces are present in the squares, and are ready to disperse any gathering that might block the traffic flow,” Osman said.
In a related development, the Anti-Coup Alliance published an early statement asserting that Tahrir Square, the presidential palace, and the Egyptian Media Production City are targets for mobilisation and demonstrations.
The statement added that they are warning members of the Ministry of Interior against targeting protesters.
State media reported Sunday morning that a considerable number of police are being deployed, in “anticipation of any form of rioting or protesting, expected to be executed by the Muslim Brotherhood group”.
Last year Matariya saw the worst violence during the third anniversary of the 25 January Revolution, as pro-Morsi protesters confronted local residents and riot police. WikiThawra, an independent database dedicated to the Egyptian revolution, listed 30 dead and 70 injured in the mentioned incident.
