Egyptian police injure 300 during student protest dispersal

Around 320 students are reported to have been wounded by the Egyptian police and army when they broke into the halls of residence at Cairo’s famed Al-Azhar University and forcefully dispersed a students’ protest on Wednesday, the General Students Union (GSU) said on its Facebook page. Among those wounded are 120 injured by metal rubber-coated bullets; 200 suffered from breathing difficulties due to the tear gas used by the security forces. Unconfirmed reports say that one student was killed by the authorities.

The students had organised demonstrations to protest against the killing of three of their colleagues in a previous police sweep through the university, when live ammunition was used. This was followed by protests with students showing solidarity with their deceased colleagues, chanting “Down with military rule!”