A number of students and an Egyptian officer named Colonel Waleed Fekry were among the injured of the Thursday clashes.

Reports say Molotov cocktails were thrown during the unrest and unidentified assailants burned a motorcycle that caused the fire to spread to a nearby building.

Both sides exchanged accusations over violence.

Thugs came from outside the university and boarded the roofs of the building of university president and threw Molotov cocktails and stones at the students, said “Students Against the Coup” coalition spokesperson Ibrahim Rady.

Other students meanwhile accused Muslim Brotherhood supporters of setting fire to the building and smashing security official room at the university.

Such protests have gained momentum in Egypt after students in the al-Azhar University in Cairo staged rallies in support of former president Mohammad Morsi for several days starting last week.

Similar demonstrations were held in the Alexandria University on Wednesday.

The protests were held against the backdrop of deployment of large numbers of security forces across the country.

Egypt has been experiencing unrelenting violence since July 3, when the army ousted Morsi’s government, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the parliament. It also appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, as the new interim president.

Since then, Egypt has been the scene of rival rallies and clashes between thousands of the supporters and opponents of Morsi.

NTJ/DB