Hundreds have attempted to break into police stations in Alexandria and Ismailia, while a prison in Minya experienced several riots and escape attempts.
The attacks coincide with mass demonstrations in Cairo and other governorates since Saturday, when police forces forcibly dispersed a sit-in by protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
In the district of Sidi Gaber in the coastal city of Alexandria, north of Cairo, security forces managed to foil an attempt by protesters early Tuesday to break into Sidi Gaber prison. A security source said nearly 200 people, chanting anti-police slogans, rallied in front of the facility, and that officers were able to hold them back.
In Ismailia, east of Cairo, outlaws attacked two prisons late Monday, firing at both buildings to free a number of prisoners.
A security source in Ismailia, speaking to Al-Masry Al-Youm, claimed that the protests were being used as an opportunity to stage attacks on police departments. He revealed that prisoners have been evacuated from police stations and transferred to a high-security public prison in Ismailia's city of Mostaqbal as a precautionary measure.
In Minya, security services foiled an attempted prison-break by 13 inmates at Samalout's police station. The inmates had heard that revolutionary groups were staging marches in support of demonstrators in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
A Minya security source told the newspaper that riot police fired gas bombs to regain control of the facility. Medics have been summoned to treat prisoners suffering the effects of tear gas.
Since the 25 January revolution first began, police stations nationwide have experienced attacks by outlaws and inmates’ relatives in attempts to free them.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
