Egypt Port Said CLASHES: 22 dead, army deployed as crowd STORMS prison after DEATH sentences
Twenty-two people have been killed, including two policemen, and 176 injured during clashes in Egypt's Port Said. The army has been deployed in the canal city, where a crowd attempted to storm a prison after stadium riot death sentences were issued.
The deadly assault follows the sentencing of 21 people to death for the riot and stampede in Port Said in which dozens were killed last February.
As the verdict was issued in Port Said, the families of the condemned attempted to storm the city prison, Egyptian state TV reported. Several sources reported that automatic rifles using live ammunition have been shot from the crowd at the scene.
Two police officers were gunned down outside the prison. There are also reports of 20 civilian deaths in the clashes, according to State TV.
The Egyptian Army has been deployed to Port Said to uphold order. The entrances to the port city have been cordoned off.
More than 70 accused are standing trial over the tragedy at the stadium. Among them are nine security officials.
Saturday's sentences are now to be confirmed by Egypt's top religious authority, the Grand Mufti. The court is to hear the cases of the other accused in early March.
The tragic riot on February 1, 2012, between fans of home team Al-Masry and Cairo's visiting Al-Ahly left over 70 people dead and sparked days of violent protests in the capital, which claimed 16 more lives. It was the deadliest football-related incident in 15 years and the worst in Egypt's history.
News of the verdict was welcomed with cheers and fireworks by members of the Ultras, the hard core fans of Al-Ahly. They were demonstrating in front of their club building.
Relatives of the defendants protesting in Port Said expressed anger and dismay over the verdict.
The sentencing comes the day after the second anniversary of the revolution that toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The date has been marked by violent protest in the country, which left at least nine people killed and hundreds injured.
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