4 die, 12 injured in Egypt clashes: Health Ministry

Egypt’s Health Ministry says clashes between police and protesters in a northern Cairo district have claimed the lives of at least four people.

According to a statement issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Health on Sunday, at least 12 others including two officers and a police conscript were also wounded in the clashes between police and people protesting against accidental killing of a man by police officers in Shubra al-Kheima district.

Those injured were reportedly sent to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

Clashes erupted on Saturday after an Egyptian police officer chasing a drug dealer accidentally opened fire at a man who was sitting in his apartment’s balcony in the same region. Reports say the man lost his life in the incident.

Following the incident, the inhabitants of the district including the relatives and friends of the man identified as Mahrous Mohammed Mahrous demonstrated near the local police station where they threw rocks at police officers.

In response, police used tear gas to disperse the protesters. According to the reports, the protest continued until Sunday.

Security forces were positioned around the police station in an attempt to foil further attacks by angry protesters.