Egypt: Cairo was hit by series of explosions on Thursday

Vodafone shop in Mohandeseen, Cairo, where one of the bombs
exploded early on Thursday
(Image: Ahram Online)

Egyptian capital Cairo was hit by series of explosions early in the morning on Thursday, 26 February. A total amount of four bombs have detonated in greater Cairo area, leaving one dead and at least nine people killed.

One bomb, detonated remotely, exploded early in the morning in front of the police station in El-Waraq district in Giza governorate, according to security source. This blast left six people injured, including police personnel and a conscript, according to the information of Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health.

Egypt’s football tragedy: clashes between the fans and police turned deadly

Zamalek fans clash with Egyptian police
(Image: Ahram Online)

Sunday’s 8 February football match turned into a deadly violence as at least 20 people were killed during the clashes erupted between the fans and security forces in Cairo’s Air Defense Stadium, where the game of Egyptian Premiere League has taken place. It was the deadliest football incident in Egypt since the tragedy in Port Said in 2012 when 72 football fans were killed during the clashes and dozens were injured.

Clashes reportedly started at the entrance of the Stadium when the crown of Zamalek fans, Ultras White Knights, attempted to enter the stadium without tickets and were prevented from doing it by the security forces. The Ultras reportedly attempted to storm the stadium, so the police have used teargas in order to disperse the huge crowds of fans. Eyewitnesses stressed that some of the fans were using fireworks clashing with the police.

Clashes in Ukrainian capital continue as negotiations are in a deadlock and dictatorial laws put in effect

Clashes in Kyiv capital
(Image: Radio Svoboda)

Situation in Ukrainian capital remains extremely tense and escalates with every hour as “president” Yanukovich failed to appear for the talks between his “government” and representatives of the oppositional forces, and riot police and security forces are still in the streets.

Violent clashes erupted between protesters and police and security forces blocking the governmental district and Grushevsky Street leading to the key governmental building and preventing the peaceful protesters to walk. Radical ultra-right activists united in the Right Sector have started to clash with security forces as tens of thousands of protesters joined them. First clashes erupted on Sunday, 19 January, when birdshots, teargas, sound and smoke bombs and water cannons have been used by riot police and security forces against the demonstrators while the protesters have been throwing rocks, stones, fireworks and Molotov cocktails. Clashes continued till Tuesday, 21 January. Hundreds of protesters have been injured, a lot of them with the injuries of eyes, heads and limbs, while Ministry of Interior reports that at least 160 security personnel have been wounded in the clashes.

Ukraine: Violent dispersal of peaceful pro-European sit-in on Independence Square ended the legitimacy of Yanukovich’s regime

Violent dispersal of sit-in on Independence Square
(Image: AP)

Peaceful sit-in of the supporters of European integration on Kyiv’s iconic Independence Square was violently dispersed by special units of riot police in early hours of Saturday, 30 November.

After Cabinet of Ministers’ statement regarding suspending of processes of preparation to the signing of the Association Agreement with EU and the failure of Vilnius Summit, where the Agreement wasn’t signed, tens of thousands of people remain in the squares and main streets of Ukrainian capital and other cities as well. Peaceful demonstrations calling for the European path and implementing of European values in the country have turned into the rallies calling for changing the power of the state if Victor Yanukovich will not make everything possible to sign the Agreement.

Egypt: Car bomb exploded near the ministerial convoy in Cairo

Car bomb exploded in Cairo

Car bomb has exploded in Cairo’s eastern district Nasr City on Thursday, 5 September. The bomb attack has targeted the convoy of Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt’s Interior Minister, and occurred in the morning, nearly 10.30 a.m.

Egyptian Health Ministry reported at least 21 people injured, among them also police officers. There have been no dead among the civilians or police personnel after the explosion, but on Friday the Health Minsitry reported one person died at the hospital. Security forces and investigation team working in the area reported some body’s parts have been found there and they could possible belong to those who carried out an attack. The rests of those bodies have been sent for the expertise.

Thousands have gathered for the pro-Morsy rallies in Egypt despite the security forces’ warning

Egypt's pro-Morsy's rallies

Egypt’s Islamist Alliance for Support of Legitimacy demanding Mohamed Morsy’s reinstatement as Egypt’s President has called for the massive rallies to be hold in Cairo and other Egyptian governorates on Friday, 2 August, in order to protest against “the military coup” and the excessive measures being used by the country’s security forces while dealing with the protesters.

Egypt’s Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim has stated on Wednesday that the state’s Cabinet has approved the security forces to deal with the pro-Morsy protests if they will threaten the state’s security. The statement read that supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsy should clear their sit-ins and stop the protests fast and peacefully and in this case all of them will be granted secure and safe exit. In another case security forces and Interior Ministry will use all the possible legal measures in order to disperse the protests as they are the threat to the state’s security now and cannot be acceptable anymore, read the statement.

Egypt’s Minister of Interior holds meetings with security officials

Egyptian CSF 

Amid the ongoing policemen strike all over Egypt Egyptian Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim held on Monday, 11 March, two meetings with the security officials in order to find the solution to the current crisis and to resolve the tense situation.

The Minister discussed the issues of the internal security with the top security officials and also with their aides.

During the first meeting held on Monday Mohamed Ibrahim met with the Central Security Forces (CSF) top officials and also with some police recruits. The meeting started with the minute of mourning the “police martyrs”.

Then Minister and the CSF officials and recruits discussed the situation with the security in the country and the current protests of policemen. Minister stated that the developing of the institution of the SCF and providing the new resources and mechanisms for achieving this goal is among the key tasks of the Ministry of Interior.

Egypt’s Minister of Interior summoned over Port Said deaths

Port Said protests

Egypt’s investigating Judge Abdel Aziz Shaheen decided on Sunday, 10 March, to summon Egypt’s Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim over the Port Said deaths caused by the recent clashes in the Canal city.

Mohamed Ibrahim will be summoned on 17 March. Investigating judge also announce that several other high officials will be summoned over the deaths and numerous injures of the protesters in Port Said after the clashes that erupted in the city on 26 January, after the Court announced the death sentences for 21 out of 72 defendants in the Port Said stadium disaster case. Among those officials to be also summoned are Deputy Security chief for service affairs, who is expected to be questioned on 18 March, and also Port Said east and west prison chiefs, who’s questioning is scheduled for 19 March.

Police strike in Egypt continues nationwide

Egypt's riot police

The massive police strike which has started several days ago in Egypt continues nationwide with dozens of the new police stations joining the protests all over the country.

According to the reports more than 30 police stations in different Egypt’s governorates have shut their doors and stopped their work on Friday, 8 March. The police stations in Cairo joined the protests include those in the districts of Helwan, Maadi, Giza, Dokki and others. Several police stations in the coastal city of Alexandria didn’t work today too in a protest.

The police strike includes also other Egyptian governorates, Port Said, Assiut, Luxor, North Sinai, Damietta, Gharbiya, Mahalla, Mansoura and others are among them.

Breaking news: Egypt’s Commander of CSF sacked

Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt's
Minister of Interior

Amid the continuing clashes and protests in Egypt nationwide and the growing protests of the police officers and personnel Egypt’s official state’s news agency reported that Egyptian Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim has sacked General Maged Nouh, Commander of the Central Security Forces (CSF). More details are expected to be soon.

Meanwhile the policemen’s protests continue and growing in the country with more police stations refusing to work until their demands will be met. Thus, several police stations in Cairo’s districts of Helwan and Maadi have been reportedly closed for work. Several police stations in the coastal city of Alexandria have joined the protests too.

Egyptian Interior Ministry faces growing protests of the policemen

Egypt's Security Forces personnel

Numerous police officers and security personnel across the country started their protests against the current politics of Egypt’s Interior Ministry demanding the dismissal of the recently appointed Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim and protesting against the deteriorating conditions of the work for the policemen.

It’s worth mentioning that the protests of the police officers and low ranking policemen have started several days ago in the several cities with the demands to improve the working conditions, to allow the weapon for the policemen to be able to protect themselves during their duties and protesting against the policies of the Ministry of Interior.