Protesters, Security Forces Clash Outside Alexandria Courtroom

Clashes erupted in Alexandria on Sunday afternoon between protesters and security forces outside an Alexandria criminal court.

Unidentified assailants raided the court after the clashes and set fire to legal papers and documents inside, MENA news agecy said.

Fighting broke out when activists and the relatives of slain protesters waiting outside the courtroom learned that the panel of judges – who were presiding in the ongoing case of demonstrators killed during Egypt’s 2011 uprising – had decided to step down only one day before delivering a final verdict.

Security forces used teargas and birdshot against the angry crowd on Alexandria’s corniche, from the Manshia district to El-Raml train station. Some protesters accused Central Security Forces of using live ammunition to disperse them.

Two police cars were set on fire, the witness said. Security forces detained some protesters, the state news agency MENA said, and dozens of people were injured.

Dozens of protesters, some of whom set fire to an empty police vehicle, were detained by security forces.

Sunday’s incident represents the second such clash between protesters and security forces outside Alexandria’s criminal court building since the trial first began.

Ahram