An eighth protester died early Monday in clashes between police forces and protesters that erupted in downtown Cairo last week in the aftermath violence at a Port Said football match. Protesters believe the violence at the match to be the result security negligence and instigation by police forces.
Mohamed Qenawy, 21, was shot in the neck and chest with birdshot, according to a statement by Assistant Health Minister Hesham Shiha. Twelve others have died in clashes across Egypt.
At least 74 people were killed when hardcore football fans stormed the pitch in Port Said Stadium after a Premier League match between Ahly and Masry teams. News reports said Sunday that some security officials in Port Said were implicated in the violence, and some individuals arrested said they had been hired by officials from the dissolved National Democratic Party.
The streets around the Interior Ministry, the focal point of the Cairo clashes, were calm Monday morning. Traffic movement returned to normal in Tahrir Square, though some protesters and street vendors remained on the square's central island.
State TV and the state-run news agency MENA said cement blocks built by the army on streets leading to the ministry helped mitigate tensions between police and demonstrators.
But the barriers also hinder traffic in downtown Cairo. Three streets have totally closed since clashes at the cabinet building in December.
A fire broke out at an apartment building in Falaky Square early Monday near the ministry after clashes there, but fire brigades extinguished it.
On Sunday, a group of 20 people that included Al-Azhar academics and students succeeded in convincing protesters to retreat to Falaky Square while security forces remained near the ministry, resulting in a temporary calm.
Hit-and-run battles ensued between both sides Sunday night. Police forces fired a barrage of tear gas and sound bombs while hundreds assembled in the nearby Bab al-Louq and chanted anti-military slogans.
Media host and activist Gameela Ismail said anti-military activist Salma Said had suffered injuries from birdshot during the clashes and was being treated in Qasr al-Aini Hospital. She received multiple birdshot wounds from head to toe. Internet users circulated images of the injured activist.
