Archive for police forces

Interior minister: Police act with impartiality and integrity

by admin
December 6th, 2012

Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin said Thursday that the police are exerting the maximum effort to secure citizens and facilities, stressing that policemen carry out their duties impartially and with integrity.

Gamal Eddin added in a statement that he hopes people recognize the police force’s rational performance during this critical moment in the country’s history.
 
Violent clashes between pro- and anti-Morsy supporters in the area surrounding the presidential palace Wednesday night left five dead and hundreds injured.

State-run MENA news service quoted a security official as saying that the police remained neutral while breaking up the clashes. The source noted that the police sometimes used foot soldiers and other times armored vehicles, and claimed that the police performance was applauded by both sides in the clashes.

The Interior Ministry statement said police forces used some tear gas to disperse the fighting. The statement added that the police were in a difficult position and tried to keep the situation under control.

Eyewitnesses told Al-Masry Al-Youm Wednesday that the police assaulted anti-Morsy protesters and detained dozens of them during the clashes.  

Former presidential hopeful Khaled Ali accused the police of conspiracy against the protesters.

“In the vicinity of the presidential palace, blood has no price,” Ali wrote on his Twitter. “The Muslim Brotherhood militia and the complicit police fired tear gas and bullets on the revolutionaries, who resisted using stones and chanting, ‘The revolution continues.’”

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Interior minister: Mohamed Mahmoud protesters shot by their comrades

by admin
November 26th, 2012

Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin denied policemen were involved in shooting protesters with birdshot near the ministry, saying police only use tear gas to separate demonstrators and hold them back.

Health Ministry reports said that many of the dozens injured in clashes between security forces near the Interior Ministry and protesters were caused by birdshot. The encounters that broke out last Monday followed demonstrations commemorating the death of more than 40 in clashes near Mohamed Mahmoud Street last November.

In an interview with state-run newspaper Al-Ahram published Monday, Gamal Eddin said that, unlike wounds sustained by police, birdshot injuries sustained by protesters reveal they had been shot from close range. He claimed this meant the firing came from the demonstrations, not police.

The minister said Gaber Salah, an April 6 Youth Movement member who was pronounced dead Sunday, bore signs of birdshot injuries received from close range, despite the long distance between him and security forces during the demonstrations.

“The Interior Ministry had asked the Public Prosecution to search the scene of events and to inquire about the weaponry used by police forces so as to avoid false accusations to security forces,” he said. “Prosecutors had visited the area, but did not make any notes.”

“The [police] forces are the victims here,” the minister argued.

Gamal Eddin added that police have been deterring attacks on the Interior Ministry and the Shura Council.

He put forth that the security performance is faring well in general, but added that events in Tahrir Square and surrounding areas give the impression of a security void.

“We do not confront peaceful protests,” he claimed, adding that his ministry’s role is to secure important facilities.

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Army, police face off again

by admin
November 21st, 2012

For the second time in a week, army officers faced off Wednesday with police forces. Forces from the military police and navy on Wednesday evening surrounded the Montazah Police department in Alexandria for an hour to release a navy officer who was detained inside for fighting with a police detective.

Eyewitnesses said the fight began when the police stopped the navy officer to ask for his ID card and driver’s license, and that he called his friends to come to his rescue when he was taken to the police station, but no clashes erupted between the two sides.

The military prosecution is currently investigating a similar incident which occurred in New Cairo’s Fifth Settlement on Monday. Clashes that broke out between police and army officers Monday evening were ended the same night.

The clashes were allegedly sparked by the army’s intent to avenge a military officer who had a dispute with a police officer on Saturday. The military officer claims that the policeman stopped him on the Cairo-Ismailia Road to check his driver’s license, then took him to the police station and assaulted him.

Eyewitnesses said that on Monday evening the police fired teargas canisters to disperse the army officers who came to protest the alleged assault. Assistant Interior Minister for Cairo Security Osama al-Saghir denied that any teargas was fired.

Military spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali said the confrontation was “incidental” and that the police and the army are partners in securing the country.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Wednesday’s papers: Conflict at home and abroad

by admin
November 21st, 2012

Scenes of bloody clashes between Tahrir protesters and police forces are back filling the front pages of local newspapers, accompanied by ongoing coverage of the escalating conflict between Israel and Gaza, a contentious IMF loan and constitution-drafting troubles.

Privately owned Youm7 describes the Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes as "a comeback for the battles of fire and blood."  The violence broke out Monday night as demonstrators marked the one-year anniversary of protests against the then-ruling military council in which 45 people died.

Dozens of protesters blocked Qasr al-Aini Street, according to the newspaper, while police forces used tear gas to disperse them. Judicial sources told Youm7 that the chief public prosecutor has ordered investigations of the clashes after security forces arrested 19 protesters allegedly involved in assaulting police. Medical sources also said 44 protesters were transferred to the Mounira Hospital and Gaber Ahmed, member of April 6 Youth Movement, is being treated in Qasr al-Aini Hospital after being shot in the head.

Private daily Al-Watan runs a photo of an injured Gaber with blood covering his face. The newspaper says the public prosecutor has ordered security cameras in Tahrir Square inspected. The paper also quotes security sources as confirming that nine officers and 20 soldiers were injured during fighting, and additionally quotes them as saying that they used restraint when dealing with protesters.

State-owned Al-Ahram completely sidelines coverage of the clashes, electing to focus on Egypt's efforts to end Israeli aggression on Gaza. The newspaper says Egypt's reconciliation efforts have been successful, despite Israel's continuing bombardment of the enclave and Gaza's return rocket fire.

In contrast to a promising headline quoting Hamas spokesperson Ayman Taha on the Egyptian-brokered truce, the newspaper also quotes in the report's first paragraph Israeli spokesperson Mark Regev as saying no final agreement has been reached.

Al-Watan says in its headline that the Israeli aggression escalates as Egypt is racing against time to reach a truce. The paper quotes President Mohamed Morsy as claiming the "Israeli aggression farce" will end today.

In contradiction with Morsy's promises, the newspaper quotes sources close to both conflicting parties who confirm final negotiations are deadlocked as the two sides refuse to budge on their truce conditions.

Covering domestic affairs, privately owned Al-Shorouk says Egypt is expected to approve a US$4.8 billion loan from the IMF as negotiations wrap up. As part of the loan conditions, the government will likely be forced to decrease the budget deficit to 8.5 percent.

Youm7 quotes Prime Minister Hesham Qandil as saying the wealthy will bear the burden of the loan. Planning and International Cooperation Minister Ashraf al-Araby says the government has designed a national economic program to attract $14.5 billion in aid by the end of 2014, a figure which includes the IMF loan, the paper reports.

State-owned Al-Akhbar writes that the government says its first priority is to achieve social justice after receiving the loan. The paper quotes Araby as saying the government aims to redistribute resources for the sake of the poor and to increase government spending on programs that have a social welfare element, as well as increasing state investments to LE55.6 million.

Al-Shorouk also covers "Final attempts to contain the Constituent Assembly crisis," referring to meetings conducted by the Freedom and Justice Party with the assembly members who withdrew in protest. The party is reportedly trying to convince those forces to return to the body and help it reach consensus over debated articles. Minister of State for Legal Affairs and assembly member Mahmoud Mahsoub says he will meet with church representative to understand why they withdrew from the assembly and convince them to come back as well.

The paper also quotes former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi who says that his Popular Current electoral campaign supports secular forces as they challenge Islamist domination of the constitution-writing process.

Freedom and Justice, the party newspaper, leads with the embroiled Constituent Assembly. In its lead story, the Muslim Brotherhood mouthpiece says that the allegations of the members who withdrew from the assembly are unfounded and exaggerated. The paper quotes liberal journalist Wael Qandil claiming that those who withdrew acknowledged that the draft constitution is the best one the assembly has come up with.

Egypt’s papers:

Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt

Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size

Al-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run

Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run

Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned

Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned

Al-Watan: Daily, privately owned

Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party

Youm7: Daily, privately owned

Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned

Al-Sabah: Daily, privately owned

Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party

Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned

Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party

Al-Nour: Official paper of the Salafi Nour Party

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Renewed clashes break out near Interior Ministry

by admin
November 21st, 2012

Clashes resumed Wednesday morning between protesters and police forces near the Interior Ministry in downtown Cairo, with the two sides exchanging volleys of rocks and tear gas.

Dozens of protesters moved to Qasr al-Aini Street to escape tear gas canisters. Security forces intensified their presence near the Cabinet and Parliament buildings nearby to ward off potential attacks from Constituent Assembly members convening at the Shura Council.

A source at Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr said that a blaze at its Tahrir Square studio was under control after a Molotov cocktail attack, but added that the whole office was charred.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Interior Ministry: 118 detained in Mohamed Mahmoud clashes

by admin
November 21st, 2012

Security forces have arrested 118 protesters since Monday in ongoing clashes near the Ministry of Interior, the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page Wednesday morning.

Those arrested will be interrogated about why they took part in the protests and who the instigators were, the statement said.

Clashes escalated Tuesday night near Mohamed Mahmoud and Youssef al-Guindi streets, which both link Tahrir Square to the ministry building. Protesters hurled Molotov cocktails at police and security forces, who answered with tear gas canisters.

The protesters were commemorating the anniversary of the November 2011 clashes that raged for days on Mohamed Mahmoud Street after police forces forcibly cleared the square of protesters demonstrating against the then-ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

At least 55 protesters and 37 police and security forces have been injured so far. Assistant Interior Minister Ahmed Helmy has said that no deaths have been reported.

Al-Masry Al-Youm had reported that 11 suspects involved in the incidents were detained for four days pending investigation, while 13 others were released and nine minors were sent back to their families.

Those arrested have been accused of rioting, assaulting police forces and damaging government facilities.

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Tahrir Square calm again after a night of clashes

by admin
November 20th, 2012

Cairo's Tahrir Square was mostly calm after a night of clashes between police forces and protesters who were commemorating November 2011 clashes with security that killed more than 40 demonstrators, although protesters portions of blocked Qasr al-Aini street near the entrance to the square.

Violence erupted at Mohamed Mahmoud street, near the Interior Ministry, last year after police forces had forcibly cleared the square of protesters against the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces that had ruled the country during its transitional period.

Nearly 36 protesters were injured in clashes during the demonstrations marking the events late Monday, the Health Ministry said in an earlier statement.

Dozens of men blocked Qasr al-Aini using wooden pallets at Sheikh Rihan Street which leads to the Interior Ministry, eyewitnesses reported. The charred remains of fires lit the night before remained on the street.

Activities returned to normal on Tuesday at the Mugamma, where employees began work according to their usual schedule. Workers at the nearby Shura Council, other vital institutions and shops also resumed regular schedules.

Edited translation from MENA

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Thursday’s papers: Sinai conspiracies and constitution debate

by admin
November 8th, 2012

The repeated attacks on police forces in Sinai and the ongoing investigation of a “terrorist cell” in Nasr City have opened the door for a flood of conspiracy theories and a renewed focus on the deteriorating security situation in the strategic peninsula.

State-run Al-Akhbar newspaper reports that police have captured three additional suspects in the Nasr City case, increasing the total number of suspects to 12.

The interior minister told the paper that investigations indicate the raided Nasr City apartment was a site for theoretical training for the terrorist cell, while the practical training was planned to take place in the Libyan desert.

The minister also said security forces found large amounts of highly explosive material in the apartment.

With “The details of the grand conspiracy on Sinai” as its main headline, privately-owned Al-Watan proceeds to describe multiple dangers surrounding Sinai, accusing police forces of cooperating with militants.

The paper cites security sources in North Sinai as saying that militants are aware of surprise police patrols, which implies they get information from within the security apparatus.

The head of an independent coalition of Sinai tribes Ibrahim al-Menei also told the paper that corrupt policemen collaborate with the militants, and said that the policemen involved are known.

Independent Al-Tahrir newspaper also quotes a security source as saying that recent attacks prove militant groups are targeting security heads in Sinai in a plan to get rid of all senior officers who are investigating them.

The source elaborates that the attacks on police forces are intended to create chaos that would allow militant groups that have been laying low since the start of the military operation in Sinai to resurface and attack police and security stations to seize weapons and files relating to security in Sinai.

Privately-owned Al-Sabah newspaper highlights a related security concern with an investigation claiming, with little proof, that the Israeli Mossad has infiltrated Egyptian universities by teaching Hebrew and is recruiting students.

On another front, debates continue about the Constituent Assembly. While some papers say that it is heading toward consensus over the draft constitution, others highlight ongoing divisions.

According to Al-Sabah, judges will decide today on how they would escalate actions to express their discontent with the position of the judiciary in the constitution draft.

The paper says that the judges would either refuse to supervise the constitution referendum or announce a nationwide strike.

Independent Al-Shorouk newspaper reports that one of the major arguments within the assembly has been resolved.

After weeks of debate regarding the women’s rights article, which conditioned gender equality to the principles of Sharia, the paper reports that the article has been removed with the consent of both the liberal and the Islamic forces in the assembly.

Members of the assembly told the paper that negotiations continue on other controversial articles relating to freedom of religion and the powers of the president.
          
Egypt’s papers:

Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt

Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size

Al-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run

Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run

Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned

Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned

Al-Watan: Daily, privately owned

Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party

Youm7: Daily, privately owned

Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned

Al-Sabah: Daily, privately owned

Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party

Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned

Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party

Al-Nour: Official paper of the Salafi Nour Party

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Update: Seven security forces members injured in Sinai attack

by admin
September 16th, 2012

Seven security forces members and three passers-by were injured by gunfire Sunday when unidentified gunmen attacked the Sheikh Zuwayed Police Station in North Sinai.

Members of the security forces exchanged fire with the assailants, and eight of them were arrested.

The seven injured security members were taken to the hospital, security sources said.

The joint army and police forces security mission had been chasing armed militants in southern Sheikh Zuwayed using armored vehicles and a helicopter. The assailants then fired at security troops with automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades.

Witnesses said they saw three SUVs loaded with automatic weapons chasing the security forces.

The clash came on the heels of another attack in Sinai, when unknown attackers fired RPG missiles at the North Sinai Security Department in Arish on Sunday, German news agency DPA reported.

Eyewitnesses told the agency that the attack was followed by a firefight between the department's snipers and the assailants, which lasted for one hour. A security source said the attack was a response to a police campaign that had led to the arrest of militants in the peninsula.

The same source added that no injuries or losses were reported.

The army's largest camp is located a few steps away from the security department under attack.

Al-Masry Al-Youm reported violent battles on Sunday between army forces and other unknown attackers in Moqata, North Sinai, adding that the army asked for air cover during the encounter.

The attackers targeted the Sheikh Zuwayed police station with RPGs, while another group attacked the Reyasa checkpoint. No injured have been reported.

The Armed Forces have been leading a security operation in Sinai which aims to track down militants in the region after an attack on a military checkpoint in Rafah on 5 August left 16 Egyptian soldiers dead.

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Police checkpoint attacked in Arish

by admin
September 6th, 2012

Masked gunmen on Thursday fired at a police checkpoint on the road to the Arish airport without causing injuries.

Security sources said the assailants were driving an SUV when they shot at police forces, who shot back. 

The same checkpoint was attacked several times before, most recently on 25 August, also without causing injuries.

Edited translation from MENA

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