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Soccer riot backlash

February 3, 2012

Police in Egypt have clashed with protesters as anger mounts over the death of 74 people during Wednesday's soccer riots. Security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in Cairo, with two reported dead in Suez.

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Egyptian protesters march in Cairo
Protesters chanted 'down with military rule'Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Some 10,000 Egyptian protesters angered by the death of dozens of soccer fans in Wednesday's post-match violence clashed with riot police in the capital Cairo on Thursday.

Meanwhile, two men were reported to have been killed as violence flared between protesters and police in the northeastern city of Suez. The dead were demonstrators, according to medical sources.

In the capital, security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators as they attempted to reach the Interior Ministry to protest against a lack of police intervention during the riots. Up to 20 injured protesters were taken to hospital, suffering from gas inhalation.

State television said 628 people in all were injured in the Cairo clashes, mostly because of tear gas inhalation. "The security services are continuing to maintain the highest restraint following these aggressions," a security source told the Mena news agency. Several thousand were still reported to be on the streets even after sunset.

At least 74 people were killed and around 1,000 others were injured in the northern city of Port Said on Wednesday as violence broke out between rival soccer fans. As the final whistle blew, fans of the winning home team Al-Masry invaded the pitch throwing rocks, bottles and fireworks at Cairo's Al-Ahly supporters.

State television ran footage of riot police standing motionless in rows as clashes erupted. Most of the deaths were reportedly caused by the ensuing crush as panicked fans fled the scene. Medics claim that some of the victims had also been stabbed. It was the deadliest incident in Egypt since the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak in February last year.

Egypt's ruling military council has been widely blamed by protesters for failing to prevent the riot. In response, Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzuri told an emergency session of parliament on Thursday that the Egyptian football association's director and board had been fired, as had Port Said's security chief. The resignation of Port Said's governor had also been accepted.

Egyptian MPs demanded that Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim also take responsibility for Wednesday's violence.

ccp/rc//sb (AFP, Reuters)

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Opinion: This excessive violence was not an accident

Opinion: This excessive violence was not an accident

More than 70 people dead; a thousand injured. That was the bloody outcome of riots in Egypt following a soccer game in Port Said. The violence was not an accident, says DW's Loay Mudhoon. (02.02.2012)
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epa03088535 Egyptian youths are backdropped by a fire which erupted in Cairo Stadium after the announcement of the cancelation of a soccer match between Zamalek and Ismaily, Cairo, Egypt, 01 February 2012. The fire reportedly erupted shortly after the match between Zamalek and Ismaily was canceled for security reasons. Firefighters intervened and the fire was extinguished, with no human losses reported. The fire was allegedly started after fans heard of the unrest in Port Said, where at least 70 people were killed and 1000 injured when riots broke out following a football match in Port Said in northern Egypt, according to local media reports. Some of the dead are believed to be security officers. The riots broke out after a game between Egypt's Al-Ahali and Al-Masri teams in Port Said, the Egyptian broadcaster said. EPA/AHMED KHALED +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Egyptian premier fires football board after deadly soccer riots

Egyptian premier fires football board after deadly soccer riots

The leadership of the Egyptian Football Association has been fired following Wednesday's deadly soccer riots that killed 74 people. The European Union has called for an external probe into the violence. (02.02.2012)
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