30 killed in Egypt clashes over death verdict

Cairo : At least 30 people died and over 300 others were injured Saturday in Port Said city in clashes sparked by death sentencing of 21 people over last year’s football riots in Egypt, BBC reported citing officials.

The clashes occurred outside a prison between security forces and family members of the convicts, sentenced to death for the riots that killed 74 people after a football game at Port Said stadium last February.

The clashes erupted when relatives and supporters of the convicts tried to storm the prison holding them and attacked police stations following the verdict of the Port Said criminal court.

Earlier, Xinhua reported that at least 25 people were killed and over 250 injured in Saturday’s clashes.

As many as 73 people, including nine top security officials, were arrested after February riots at Port Said stadium last year following a soccer match between Port Said’s al-Masry and Cairo’s al-Ahly teams.

“The final verdict for the rest of them will be announced March 9,” said Sobhy Abdel-Meguid, the presiding judge of Port Said criminal court.

Thousands of Cairo-based soccer fans expressed overwhelming happiness over Saturday’s verdict. The fans, who had vowed earlier to retaliate for their killed fellows, celebrated the court’s decision in front of their club and then moved to Tahrir square in Cairo.

Photo : AFP