Abbasiya Attacks: Egypt Bleeds Again

Photo Blog and Text by Mosa'ab Elshamy

Ten people have died since Wednesday in clashes between civilians, the army and supporters of the military. The clashes came to a head-on Friday with the army scaling up their attacks on protesters, firing tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets at protesters in Cairo.

Violence erupted after pro-military groups attacked a sit-in protesting the disqualification of an Egyptian presidential candidate. Marches headed to the Ministry of Defense to protest the attacks on the Abbasiya district sit-in. The Military police and Central Security Forces attack on protesters lasted for many hours. Hundreds of people were arrested and a curfew was declared in Abbasiya.

This was the bloodiest day in Egypt since the Port Said Massacre in February when 70 football fans died during violent riots at a match and a further 15 lost their lives in the attacks that followed.