Sohag Governorate public prosecution began investigating Thursday 10 suspects allegedly involved in riots in the city of Gerga.
The riots broke out late Saturday over a tuk tuk accident and continued into this week.
The prosecution also ordered security services to arrest 30 additional suspects. Another six suspects were arrested Wednesday and are being detained for 15 days, pending investigations.
All suspects face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed weapons and theft of public and private property.
A prosecution team inspected Gerga police station Thursday to survey damage done when rioters allegedly broke into the building, according to an anonymous judicial source. Reports say that nearly the entire station was damaged inside, and one detention cell was smashed, which allegedly allowed six prisoners to escape, four of whom have been arrested.
The same source told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the prosecution received reports from three Gerga residents accusing residents of the Nagaa Eweis suburb of kidnapping, beating and insulting people, as well as taking photos of them after forcing them to undress.
The riots broke out last Saturday among residents of Nagaa Eweis and Gerga after a tuk tuk driver crashed his vehicle into a store. The accident did not result in any deaths, but subsequent clashes left several dead and dozens injured, although reports of injuries varied widely.
Chaos ensued over several days, with residents breaking into police stations and looting stores.
The riots resulted in the burning of a pasta factory, a furniture exhibition store and 17 other shops.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
