Deadly riots in Cairo after football tragedy verdict
By Nehal El-Sherif, Ramadan Al-Fatash, dpa
Cairo (dpa) – Violent rioting erupted Saturday in Cairo after a court exonerated policemen charged in deadly football mayhem more than a year ago in the Suez Canal city of Port Said.
Hardcore football fans, known as "Ultras", stormed and set ablaze a club affiliated with police forces as well as the nearby headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association.
The Ultras were angry that the court had acquitted seven out of nine policemen accused in the case.
Two people were killed in clashes between police and protesters in the area of Qasr al-Nil near central Cairo’s Tahrir Square, reported health authorities. Forty-six others were injured.
A spokesman for President Mohammed Morsi said the protests against the court rulings were not part of peaceful expression of opinion.
“Egypt is ruled by law and any acts of rioting and subversion will be investigated and anyone proven to be involved in them will be liable to the law,” added Ihab Fahmi, a presidential spokesman.
The hundreds of the Cairo-based al-Ahly team fans, who initially celebrated the court ruling, were soon angered by the acquittal of 28 defendants, including seven security officials.
The fans also complained that a police helicopter hovered above al-Ahly stadium, where they had gathered.
In the attack and blaze at the football association building, documents were burned and the national team's trophies stolen, an association official said.
Two military helicopters were sent to help extinguish the flames, which continued for around three hours.
In the Port Said football violence of February 1, 2012 - the country's worst in more than a decade - riots left 74 people dead after a Premier League match.
The unrest broke out when fans of the hosts, al-Masry, stormed the pitch and started attacking players and supporters of the visiting team, al-Ahly.
Spectators were stabbed with knives and pushed from the top of the stadium, witnesses said.
Al-Ahly Ultras accused police of conspiring against them due to their role in the 2011 revolution that ousted former president Hosny Mubarak.
In the ensuing court case, 73 people, including sports officials and police, were charged with premeditated murder, negligence or illegal possession of weapons.
Chief Judge Sobhy Abdel- Meguid on Saturday confirmed the death sentences, which had been handed down to 21 defendants in January.
He also sentenced the former security chief of Port Said, Major General Essam Samak, to 15 years in prison for negligence and collusion in the riots.
Colonel Mohammed Saad and eight civilians also got 15 years in prison. Five people were handed life sentences, six got 10 years, two received five years, and one person was sentenced to one year in prison.
All those sentenced have the right to appeal.
While the Ultras of al-Ahly were angered by the verdict, the club welcomed the rulings but said it hoped the prosecution would appeal the acquittals.
"The verdict came as retribution for the innocent martyrs of al-Ahly. The board has full confidence in Egypt's fair judiciary," the club said.
"We will not give up until there is complete retribution."
In Port Said, the scene was calmer on Saturday. Hundreds of protesters gathered around the provincial building but no violence was reported.
The city has been in turmoil since the January verdict. Clashes between police and residents have since killed more than 40 people.
On Friday, the army took over from police in guarding the city's security headquarters, where bloody clashes have recently raged.
