CAIRO — Egyptian security forces moved rapidly shortly after dawn Wednesday to break up two sprawling pro-Morsi sit-ins, firing weapons, bulldozing tents, and beating and arresting protesters in raids that the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party claimed killed nearly 2,000 people.
That number could not be confirmed. A senior Health Ministry official, Ahmed el-Ansari, said nine people were killed and 50 injured in all at the two sites.
Black-clad riot police moved into the camps at about 7 a.m., confronting protesters as armored vehicles plowed through tents amid large clouds of white and black smoke that appeared to come from fires and tear gas canisters.
Police directed heavy gunfire at protesters near the main pro-Morsi sit-in site outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City district. Streets were filled with tear gas fired by the security forces, and police, some wearing full black face masks to conceal their identities, marched through the nearby streets with weapons ready as many people tried to flee.
Islam Fahti, a 20-year-old university student, from the Nile delta town of Mansoura, was among the Morsi supporters who had manned a sandbag perimeter overnight. He said the protesters were taken by surprise by the security forces’ attack which arrived through sides streets in the area.
“It was surprise. We were ready since midnight. But after dawn prayer, people started relaxing. Then they started shooting from the side streets so they could infiltrate,” Fahti said. He said police made announcements through loudspeakers telling the protesters to leave and go home.
“They didn’t give us an opportunity to go home. Then a bulldozer came and took away the blockade,” Fahti said.
He said he and several comrades fled to a nearby cafe where they were confronted by police. “They took our money and our phones,” Fahti said and then several were arrested and he and others were released.
By late morning, tents were torn and strewn about at the site as military helicopters circled above the chaotic scene. “I was here everyday. There was no violence inside,” said one woman. “I’d come for a few hour the go home,” she said moments before a tear gas canister landed nearby.
The woman said she had seen several protesters rounded up and loaded into large blue trucks, typically used to transport prisoners or personnel.
“Anybody who speaks any small words, they take them in the police vans,” she said. “This is exactly what’s happening in Palestine.”
Security forces pursued protesters down nearby side streets and a police officer was seen beating a teenage boy on the head with a pistol before the boy was dragged away.
State media said the security forces moved in against the camps at about 7 a.m., blockading roads into the area.
The security forces tried to keep journalists away from the scene of the confrontations, firing tear gas at members of the press, accusing them of provocation and threatening physical harm.
State television said two policemen were killed and several others injured. The Interior Ministry issued a statement warning that security forces would deal firmly with protesters acting “irresponsibly” and offered safe passage to those who wanted to leave the camps.
As noon approached, a pro-Morsi protester at the site declared, “We’ve started a new beginning. It was peaceful before. I don’t think it will be peaceful now.”
That number could not be confirmed. A senior Health Ministry official, Ahmed el-Ansari, said nine people were killed and 50 injured in all at the two sites.
Black-clad riot police moved into the camps at about 7 a.m., confronting protesters as armored vehicles plowed through tents amid large clouds of white and black smoke that appeared to come from fires and tear gas canisters.
Police directed heavy gunfire at protesters near the main pro-Morsi sit-in site outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo’s Nasr City district. Streets were filled with tear gas fired by the security forces, and police, some wearing full black face masks to conceal their identities, marched through the nearby streets with weapons ready as many people tried to flee.
Islam Fahti, a 20-year-old university student, from the Nile delta town of Mansoura, was among the Morsi supporters who had manned a sandbag perimeter overnight. He said the protesters were taken by surprise by the security forces’ attack which arrived through sides streets in the area.
“It was surprise. We were ready since midnight. But after dawn prayer, people started relaxing. Then they started shooting from the side streets so they could infiltrate,” Fahti said. He said police made announcements through loudspeakers telling the protesters to leave and go home.
“They didn’t give us an opportunity to go home. Then a bulldozer came and took away the blockade,” Fahti said.
He said he and several comrades fled to a nearby cafe where they were confronted by police. “They took our money and our phones,” Fahti said and then several were arrested and he and others were released.
By late morning, tents were torn and strewn about at the site as military helicopters circled above the chaotic scene. “I was here everyday. There was no violence inside,” said one woman. “I’d come for a few hour the go home,” she said moments before a tear gas canister landed nearby.
The woman said she had seen several protesters rounded up and loaded into large blue trucks, typically used to transport prisoners or personnel.
“Anybody who speaks any small words, they take them in the police vans,” she said. “This is exactly what’s happening in Palestine.”
Security forces pursued protesters down nearby side streets and a police officer was seen beating a teenage boy on the head with a pistol before the boy was dragged away.
State media said the security forces moved in against the camps at about 7 a.m., blockading roads into the area.
The security forces tried to keep journalists away from the scene of the confrontations, firing tear gas at members of the press, accusing them of provocation and threatening physical harm.
State television said two policemen were killed and several others injured. The Interior Ministry issued a statement warning that security forces would deal firmly with protesters acting “irresponsibly” and offered safe passage to those who wanted to leave the camps.
As noon approached, a pro-Morsi protester at the site declared, “We’ve started a new beginning. It was peaceful before. I don’t think it will be peaceful now.”