Police Foil Escape Attempt By 48 Detainees In Sharqiya

Egypt security forces foiled an attempt by 48 detainees to flee a police station in the city of Sharqiya on Friday, state news agency MENA reported.

Detainees broke the locks of some of the cells and set fire to sheets in order to create chaos to facilitate the escape.

Police and central security forces cordoned the police station off and put out the fire, the agency added.

No casualties were reported.

In August, 37 people — described by the interior ministry as being supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi who had been arrested at protests — died of asphyxiation due to teargas inhalation while they were being transferred to Abu Zaabal prison in Cairo in a police van.

Security forces initially claimed the prisoners had died during an escape attempt.

Source : Ahram online