Death toll soars in Egypt
Since the 30 June demonstrations against Mohamed Morsy, at least 300 people have lost their lives in political violence in Egypt. This includes both pro and anti-Morsy protesters, security forces, Copts killed in sectarian violence, as well as police and civilians killed in attacks in the restive Sinai Peninsula. The true death toll is probably higher. This count relies on media reports and Health Ministry statements, which may not provide an accurate picture of the violence.
This death toll translates to an average of 8.3 people dying every day since the 30 June protests. And beyond the staggering total, it illustrates Egypt's persistent instability. The country has not witnessed two consecutive days without any casualties, and has suffered through three days during which over 40 people lost their live and thousands more were injured.
Egypt's month of violence
June 30: 16 deaths
Rallies in which people chanted "Leave!" in front of the presidential palace and in Tahrir Square, while some 25,000 march in support of Morsy in the Cairo district of Nasr City, engulf the country. Sixteen people were killed nationwide (AP).
July 1: 0
July 2: 23
Clashes between the rival sides leave 23 people dead, including 16 killed by gunmen at a Cairo rally supporting Morsy (AFP).
July 3: 10
Cairo protesters erupt in celebration, while Morsy supporters attack security forces’ buildings in the north. Ten people are killed in clashes (AFP).
July 4: 10
At least seven Morsy supporters are killed in clashes with security forces during the night (AFP).
July 5: 41
No major violence was reported between supporters and opponents of Morsy as the two sides sought to regroup after a night of fierce clashes that turned downtown Cairo into a battlefield. Clashes were also fierce in the port city of Alexandria, where thousands from both sides fought each other with automatic rifles, firebombs, and clubs. Violence left 41 dead (AP).
July 6: 1
A Coptic priest was shot dead Saturday on al-Sentral Street in the North Sinai neighborhood of al-Masaeed (Egypt Independent).
July 7: 0
July 8: 54
51 Muslim Brotherhood supporters camped outside the Republican Guards' club in Cairo were killed by security forces. The Egyptian military claimed the demonstrators had attempted to break into the building with the aid of armed motorcyclists. After examining video evidence and interviewing eyewitnesses, medics, and demonstrators, The Guardian finds a different story – a coordinated assault on largely peaceful civilians. 'If they'd just wanted to break the sit-in, they could have done it in other ways. But they wanted to kill us,' a survivor says (The Guardian).
July 9: 0
July 10: 2
Gunmen stormed a post in an area called Sadr Haitan in central Sinai early Wednesday. He says six people were wounded in the attack and at least two were killed.
July 11: 1
Security officials say suspected militants killed a Christian merchant in the northern Sinai Peninsula (AP).
July 12: 1
Officials say an attack happened early on Friday south the city of el-Arish when militants fired an RPG at an armored car at the checkpoint, killing 40-year-old Lt. Col. Ahmed Mahmoud (AP).
July 13: 0
July 14: 3
July 15: 7
Clashes overnight between police and supporters of Egypt's deposed president left at least seven people dead in Ramsis Square and on the October 6 Bridge (AP).
July 16: 0
July 17: 3
Three women were killed and seven others wounded by birdshot and stabbing attacks during clashes between Morsy supporters and his opponents in the Nile Delta city of Mansura (AFP).
July 18: 0
July 19: 2
Two civilians were killed and one wounded when militants fired rockets at an army checkpoint in El-Arish in Egypt's restive Sinai peninsula, medical and security sources said (AFP).
July 20: 0
July 21: 5
Coordinated day and night attacks Sunday by emboldened militants in Egypt's northern Sinai Peninsula targeted different areas in the main city of el-Arish and a border town, killing one civilian and four security officers, according to officials (AP).
July 22: 4
Clashes broke out after Morsy supporters began marching from their sit-in outside the main campus of Cairo University to a nearby mosque. The protesters blocked roads, causing massive traffic jams and angering residents. Security officials said the fighting turned deadly after masked gunmen appeared at the scene and started shooting at the Morsy supporters with live ammunition and birdshot. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information, had no word on the identity of the gunmen (Washington Post).
July 23: 7
Death toll increases after violence that erupted the day before.
July 24: 3
July 25: 0
July 26: 5
Five were killed, including a 14-year-old boy, in clashes between supporters and opponents of deposed President Mohamed Morsy in Alexandria. The clashes reportedly broke out in Mahatet Al-Raml district in Egypt’s second-largest city after pro-military protesters who were marching against “terrorism” passed near a demonstration by supporters of Morsi at Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque (Ahram Online).
July 27: 65
The Egyptian authorities unleashed an attack on Islamist protesters, killing at least 72 people in the second mass killing of demonstrators in three weeks and the deadliest attack by the security services since Egypt’s uprising in early 2011. The killings happened on Al-Nasr Road near Rabaa al-Adaweyya square where a sit-in has been continuing for over a month (AP).
