The killings occurred when hundreds of presumed Morsi supporters attempted to block highways and roads in Cairo and Giza early on Thursday, standoffs that were found in several other governorates nationwide, as protesters mobilized to denounce the dispersal of the Rabaa Al-Adawiya and Nahda sit-ins in Cairo on 14 August 2013, Al-Ahram reported.
Hundreds died during the 2013 incident the ensuing violence that quickly spread nationwide.
In a separate incident, a police officer was shot dead by gunman in Helwan on the outskirts of Cairo. The motive for the Thursday morning attack was described in press reports as “unknown.”
The Muslim Brotherhood-led National Alliance to Support Legitimacy (NASL) had called on loyalists to flock to major squares —specificially Tahrir, Rabaa Al-Adawiya and Nahda — on Thursday to commemorate the violent dispersals a year ago.
Meanwhile, in Alexandria, security forces dispersed around two hundred demonstrators, arresting at least six. They chanted slogans against police and army forces and blocked traffic, said a security source as cited in the report.
Six others were arrested for allegedly handing out leaflets calling for violent protests, a security source said.
In Tanta, Gharbiya governorate, security forces dispersed a pro-Morsi rally using teargas. The protesters gathered at Tanta stadium and clashed with local residents, launching fireworks.
Meanwhile, security forces have intensified their presence around the capital in anticipation of protests, the report added.
Tahrir, Rabaa and Nahda squares have reportedly been shut down.
Army and police checkpoints are reportedly checking vehicles entering Cairo, Giza and Qalioubiya, state news agency MENA reported.
Security forces have closed streets leading to the Ittihadiya presidential palace in Heliopolis.
This is while dozens of alleged Morsi supporters cut the ring road in Al-Waraq area, Giza governorate, early Thursday on both sides of the highway using burning tires. According to news reports, security forces came and re-opened the vital road and the perpetrators fled the scene.
In Cairo governorate, nearly 200 protesters gathered at Halmia Al-Zaitoun Square in East Cairo, blocking traffic from both sides and chanting anti-police and anti-army slogans.
In Nasr City, nearly 150 anti-government protesters gathered near Al-Salam Mosque and chanted against President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Protesters also tried to block traffic in Mostafa Al-Nahas area, but security forces dispersed them.
In Kafr Al-Sheikh governorate, a group of masked protesters were shown blocking Balteem highway using torched tires in a live video streamed online.
In Minya, Upper Egypt, a number of protesters torched tires on the railway at Bani Mazar, blocking trains for a couple of hours.
The autostrad highway in Maadi was blocked by protesters using burning tires. Earlier Thursday, protesters had blocked the vital highway before they were removed by security forces.
In Nasr City, protesters displayed the four-fingered Rabaa sign and chanted anti-Sisi slogans. In Haram, several pro-Morsi rallies were held.
In Sharqiya in the Nile Delta, unknown assailants destroyed electricity pylons and mobile network towers in several villages. An Al-Ahram newspaper distribution vehicle was also torched.
In Damietta, protesters blocked the New Damietta highway and the El-Swallama to Kafr Saad highway with burning tires.
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