Police thwarted protesters’ attempts to regroup in Cairo’s Tahrir Square where thousands of demonstrators had gathered on Tuesday. Around 90 have been detained, security forces said.
The protesters had pledged to stay all night and continue demonstrations until the regime falls, but were dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannons in the early hours of Wednesday.
As protesters tried to gather again Wednesday afternoon, police pushed some who were getting close to the demonstration site into an abandoned basement warehouse, where they were reportedly beaten.
Al-Masry Al-Youm reporters witnessed around 30 people being dragged along the ground and taken to the warehouse.
Security sources reported that around 90 protesters were arrested, and have been referred to the public prosecutor.
Police eventually closed off the area, preventing anyone from walking or driving. A woman passer-by was pressed by the police to leave. When she complained, a policeman told her “I can do anything, this is my job.”
Police loudly warned passersby against entering the square.
Police have cordoned off the area and stopped traffic from entering the square as well as preventing people from exiting from Sadat Metro station.
