The Public Prosecution said in a Facebook post on Sunday that the clashes that erupted nationwide Saturday, including in front of the High Court in Cairo, “were not peaceful protests but crimes that were penalized by law.”
The prosecution also praised police for securing state institutions.
In its statement, the prosecution also said, “We call on all media channels to stick to objectivity and not to [confuse] between whoever damages possessions, blocks roads or intimidate safe people and revolutionaries or peaceful protesters.”
“They are outlaws who should be arrested and legal measures be taken against them,” the statement added. “Confusion could result in inciting them to commit more crimes.”
At least 44 people were injured in clashes that took place in Cairo, Fayoum and Gharbiya Governorates during protests called by the April 6 Youth Movement, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday.
Violence broke out between security forces and protesters in several places, including in front of the High Court in Cairo. State-run news agency MENA quoted the ministry’s director for emergency care, Khaled al-Khatib, as saying that 19 of the injuries that took place in Cairo occurred at the court.
Khatib added that the injured were transferred to Helal Hospital, the Coptic Hospital and the Nasser Institute.
Al-Masry Al-Youm reported that the Central Bank was surrounded by military armored vehicles Sunday after protesters allegedly threatened to storm the building. However, no such incidents were reported.
Meanwhile, calm prevailed around the High Court Sunday, with clashes between protesters and security forces subsiding.
Calm also prevailed at the Mahalla Police Station, Shoun Square and Bahr Street in the city of Mahalla, which was rocked by similar protests after protesters reportedly tried to break into the police station with rocks and Molotov cocktails and police responded with tear gas.
The April 6 Youth Movement was formed in 2008 as labor protests broke out in Mahalla. The group played a key role in the 2011 revolution that overthrew former President Hosni Mubarak, and has continued its role as an opposition group under President Mohamed Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Edited translation from MENA
