Protests in Sharqiya led by police officers disgruntled with delayed pay and hopeful for enhanced pensions took a tense turn Sunday as protesters stormed the province’s security department, preventing their generals from entering the building.
The development came shortly after riot police shot tear gas and warning shots at protesters who demanded the removal of Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar.
An independent club of civilian police agents has demanded the removal of Abdel Ghaffar and Sharqiya’s security chief. Negotiations with the province’s military commander were unsuccessful.
Protests have halted work at the security department and five other police facilities.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
