Angry mobs on Wednesday returned to attack hundreds of protesters in Tahrir Square in an attempt to eject the protesters from the square.
At around 2 PM hundreds of people including thugs carrying knives attempted to intimidate a small sit-in taking place in the square. Waves of stones were thrown at those camping in the middle of the square.
At least 12 were injured, with two in critical condition, according to doctors at the field hospital in the square.
Earlier, at around 10 AM, smaller angry mobs attacked the Tahrir sit-in but without any reported serious injuries.
On Tuesday, hundreds had attacked protesters in the square, starting with an attack against a protest in honor of International Women’s Day. Thugs later attacked the square at 9 PM and after midnight, and eyewitnesses say molotov cocktails were thrown in the direction of the protesters.
“We are peaceful protesters and we are here in the middle of the square where we are not blocking the traffic, so why do they attack us?” asked protester Abdel Razek Hassan, 23.
“They began to attack us in the morning and returned to throw stones on us in order to force people to leave. We are not leaving until all our demands are met by the military,” Hassan added.
The main demands chanted by the protesters include the trial of former President Hosni Mubarak, an end to the Emergency Law, the release of all people detained by the military, and the dissolution of the notorious State Security (SSIS).
Starting Friday, scores of protesters stormed many branches of the once widely feared SSIS, calling for its dissolution.
“The SSIS ruined the nation for 30 years and now they are causing unrest among Muslims and Copts,” said Amgad Mohamed, 21, another protester.
On Tuesday, ten were killed after clashes erupted between Christians and Muslims in the working class district of Manshiyet Nasser. The clashes happened after angry Muslims set a church in Helwan, south of Cairo, on fire Saturday.
“That’s all the work of SSIS. They [the secret police] are telling us to stop attacking the SSIS or the secret police will bring the whole country into a civil war,” said Mohamed.
