Egypt: Over 1000 Wounded Tahrir Square Clashes

The recent clashes in Cairo’s Tahrir Square have shocked Egyptians and the political spectrum. Some 25 Egyptian political movements issued a statement on Wednesday, condemning the “excessive use of force against the martyrs’ families,” which included beatings, tear gas and detentions. Over 1000 people were wounded during the clashes with security forces.

In their statement, the political forces demanded immediate release of the detainees arrested since yesterday; an emergency investigation; the dismissal of the head of Cairo security as well as that of the ministry of interior major general, Marwan Mustafa.

Meanwhile, a judicial source said some 50 detainees from the Square will be referred to military prosecution, adding that the number can be increased. Some of the detainees will face charges of attacking the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior. Others attacked police stations and a third group attacked the Theater of the Balloon during the ceremony to honor the families of some of the martyrs of the revolution on January 25.

The source said the military prosecutor opened an investigation to find out the circumstances of the events.

The ruling military junta said in a statement on its Facebook page that the events “had no justification other than to shake Egypt’s safety and security in an organized plan that exploits the blood of the revolution’s martyrs and to sow division between the people and the security apparatus.”