Cairo streets quiet after ‘massacre' by undercover police

Seven protesters were killed and about 100 were wounded in Al-Nahda Square on Monday night as undercover police attempted to disperse a demonstration in the area. Local sources said that a woman and a child were among those killed.

According to witnesses, security officers were positioned in the offices of Cairo University’s Faculty of Engineering. It was this group, it is alleged, which opened fire on the protesters with live ammunition. Casualties were given first aid in field clinics as ambulances were prevented by pro-coup thugs from reaching the scene of the shootings. Most of those killed and wounded were near the entrances to the square where the thugs had tried to disperse the crowds. Al Jazeera reported that dozens of cars owned by the protesters in the square were set ablaze.

The leader in the Freedom and Justice Party, Esam al-Aryan, denounced that attacks and described them as “cowardly deeds”.

Describing those responsible as “fascists”, Al-Aryan said, “The military groups, police and intelligence services started to lose their minds after they had seen the persistence of the Egyptians who cannot accept the coup.” The authorities, he added, thought that the people would accept the de facto situation. “After they saw the real deadlock over the economy, stability, security, tourism, popular agreement and no practical map for the future,” noted Al-Aryan, “they felt their failure and lost their minds.”

Prominent journalist and chief editor of Al-Shorouk newspaper Wael Qandeel described what happened as a “massacre”. He told Al Jazeera Mubasher that it reminded him of the “Camel Battle” that took place in Tahrir Square during the January 25 Revolution when protesters were attacked by Mubarak’s thugs.