Interior ministry arrests 20 protesting football fans

Thursday 14-07-2016 04:30 PM

Port Said residents mourn after hearing the results of the Port Said Stadium trial. (Reuters, 2013)

CAIRO, Jul 14 (Aswat Masriya) Security forces dispersed a football fan protest for the Al-Masry team on Wednesday night and arrested 20 people, a security source in Port Said told the state-owned MENA news agency.

Public prosecution said that Hossam Hasan, the technical director of the Port Said club, has been referred to criminal court on charges of assaulting a police officer after the game in the Premier League last Friday.

Security forces dispersed the march using tear gas, after receiving complaints from residents who were worried that public property might get damaged and that roads may be cut off. The source also said that the fans chanted against the police and the state.

The 20 fans who were arrested included leaders of the Ultras group, "Green Eagles."

Hundreds had gathered in front of Maryam al-Qatari mosque in Port Said, in response to a call from "Green Eagles," to demonstrate in support of  Hassan who is being put on trial for assaulting a photographer.

The photographer was wearing plainclothes and turned out to be a police officer.

Hassan is detained for four days pending investigation. His trial is due to begin on Saturday.

A security source in Ismailia said that Hassan and his aides were transferred to Tora prison for security reasons. All three are being held in Ismalia security camp on the Cairo-Ismalia desert road.

TV footage of the game showed clashes between players and team coaches from both teams before Hassan ran for more than 30 meters to snatch the camera from the cop and throw it on the ground.

The Port Said team has been playing its games in Ismalia since 2012,  after a game between them and Cairo's Al Ahly in the Port Said stadium ended on a deadly note and 74 Ultas Ahlawy fans were killed.

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