A military source in Port Said said that five Armed Forces soldiers suffered the affects of "friendly" tear gas fire and were taken to a military hospital during ongoing clashes between protesters and security forces, as nearly 157 were reported injured in the clashes in front of the vicinity of the Port Said Security Directorate.
“The Armed Forces withdrew from their positions after the escalation of clashes between security forces and citizens,” the source said. “Policemen used large quantities of stones that were thrown at them by protesters first. They advanced several times toward protesters and succeeded in keeping the protesters from the entrances of the directorate, and prevented attempts to storm it.”
The Interior Ministry had earlier decided to transfer inmates from Port Said’s central prison in order to ensure their safety as clashes rage nearby between protesters and security forces.
“The Interior Ministry has started measures to transfer 39 of defendants in the Ahly and Al-Masry football match events to other prisons outside the city, and the rest of inmates would be transferred consecutively based on a plan prepared to evacuate the prison before another one is established at an adequate location”, a ministry source said in a press statement Sunday
Dozens of protesters attacked the Port Said Security Directorate Sunday with Molotovs, setting two police vehicles in front of the building on fire, after defendants in the Port Said football violence trial were transferred to an unknown location late Saturday.
Protesters pelted the building with stones and Molotovs and attempted to break in before security forces dispersed them with tear gas. Clashes are still ongoing as security forces attempt to regain control of the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, the public relations department of the security directorate denied having any information about where the defendants were transferred to, saying they hadn’t been informed of the move.
The Port Said Criminal Court will issue a ruling in the case on 9 March for the remaining defendants. Previously, 21 defendants from the case were sentenced to death, pending approval from Egypt’s grand mufti.
Seventy-two Ahly club fans were killed on 2 February 2012 following a football game against Masry club, when the latter’s fans stormed the bleachers where Ahly fans were seated.
Clashes erupted in January between protesters and police in Port Said following the ruling, leaving 40 dead. Port Said has been the scene of ongoing strikes and protests since then.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
