Clashes erupted tonight between protesters and Central Security Forces (CSF) in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, with protesters throwing rocks and molotov cocktails while the CSF fired multiple rounds of tear gas.
The fighting began after several people were arrested from among a group of relatives of those killed in Egypt’s 25 January revolution, witnesses told Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Fifteen people were arrested as the relatives protested at the Balloon Theater in the Agouza district, after which the group decided to march on the Interior Ministry, close to Tahrir Square, where a further 20 were arrested.
As these later arrests were made, protesters clashed with security forces, and the confrontation spread to Qasr al-Aini Street, a main Cairo thoroughfare, and Mohamed Mahmoud Street, which borders the American University in Cairo’s downtown campus.
At least 25 civilians have been injured in the clashes so far.
Some protesters said they feared this was a continuation of the fallen regime's tactics. "It's the same thing happening again, nothing has changed," said Mohamed Abdel Raouf, a protester. Central Security Forces used tear gas extensively, as well as beatings and water cannons, during the early days of the 25 January revolution.
Protesters chanted, “The people want the fall of the general,” in reference to Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
Tahrir Square was the epicenter of Egypt’s 18-day uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. The last clashes between protesters and security forces occurred on 9 April when military police stormed the square, firing hundreds of gunshots and injuring several protesters.
