This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/world/middleeast/egypt-riots-soccer-verdict.html
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Dozens Die in Egyptian Riots After Soccer Verdict | Dozens Die in Egyptian Riots After Soccer Verdict |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| CAIRO — A judge sentenced 21 soccer fans to death on Saturday for their role in a deadly soccer riot, setting off an eruption of violence that engulfed the city of Port Said. By evening, the street fighting had killed at least 30 people and wounded at least 300, hospital officials said. | |
| Angry families and supporters of the 21 defendants poured into the streets of Port Said as soon as the verdict was announced. They attacked the jail holding the defendants to demand their release, and the police responded with tear gas. But some attackers were armed with guns, witnesses and security officials said. | Angry families and supporters of the 21 defendants poured into the streets of Port Said as soon as the verdict was announced. They attacked the jail holding the defendants to demand their release, and the police responded with tear gas. But some attackers were armed with guns, witnesses and security officials said. |
| President Mohamed Morsi met with his national defense council, and a spokesman said the government was considering imposing a curfew and a state of emergency in Port Said. The army, which had sent troops and armored vehicles to the city of Suez before dawn to help quell rioting related to the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution, which killed nine people there on Friday, dispatched more forces to Port Said to help protect essential public facilities, including the city’s Mediterranean port, the Suez Canal and the jail. | President Mohamed Morsi met with his national defense council, and a spokesman said the government was considering imposing a curfew and a state of emergency in Port Said. The army, which had sent troops and armored vehicles to the city of Suez before dawn to help quell rioting related to the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution, which killed nine people there on Friday, dispatched more forces to Port Said to help protect essential public facilities, including the city’s Mediterranean port, the Suez Canal and the jail. |
| It was the third day of bloodshed in Egyptian streets. Clashes between protesters and the police continued Saturday in downtown Cairo and other cities around Friday’s two-year anniversary of the uprising against Hosni Mubarak, the deposed president. | It was the third day of bloodshed in Egyptian streets. Clashes between protesters and the police continued Saturday in downtown Cairo and other cities around Friday’s two-year anniversary of the uprising against Hosni Mubarak, the deposed president. |
| But while those battles were set off by disappointment with the results of the revolution and hostility toward Egypt’s new Islamist leaders, the escalating chaos in Port Said around the soccer riot verdict posed a far greater challenge to those leaders, and especially to their promises to enforce the rule of law. | But while those battles were set off by disappointment with the results of the revolution and hostility toward Egypt’s new Islamist leaders, the escalating chaos in Port Said around the soccer riot verdict posed a far greater challenge to those leaders, and especially to their promises to enforce the rule of law. |
| Defense officials said soldiers did not have the legal authorization to quash the Port Said riot. And Interior Ministry officials said their security forces were unable to stop the violence and pleaded for civilian leaders to intervene. | Defense officials said soldiers did not have the legal authorization to quash the Port Said riot. And Interior Ministry officials said their security forces were unable to stop the violence and pleaded for civilian leaders to intervene. |
| “The solution isn’t a security solution,” Gen. Osama Ismail, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said in a television interview. “We urge the political and patriotic leaders and forces to intervene to calm the situation.” | “The solution isn’t a security solution,” Gen. Osama Ismail, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said in a television interview. “We urge the political and patriotic leaders and forces to intervene to calm the situation.” |
| Several residents of Port Said said in telephone interviews that they were afraid to leave their homes because of the violence and gunfire in the streets. Alaa al-Bahaei, a doctor and former lawmaker, said in a television interview from the Port Said hospital that it was overwhelmed by casualties. He urged other doctors to rush to the scene. | Several residents of Port Said said in telephone interviews that they were afraid to leave their homes because of the violence and gunfire in the streets. Alaa al-Bahaei, a doctor and former lawmaker, said in a television interview from the Port Said hospital that it was overwhelmed by casualties. He urged other doctors to rush to the scene. |
| The case that set off the riot grew out of a deadly brawl last February between rival groups of hard-core fans of soccer teams from Cairo and Port Said at a match in that city, which has a population of about 600,000. The hard-core fans, called ultras, are known for their appetite for violence, against rival teams or the police. And some had smuggled knives and other weapons into the stadium, security officials said at the time. | The case that set off the riot grew out of a deadly brawl last February between rival groups of hard-core fans of soccer teams from Cairo and Port Said at a match in that city, which has a population of about 600,000. The hard-core fans, called ultras, are known for their appetite for violence, against rival teams or the police. And some had smuggled knives and other weapons into the stadium, security officials said at the time. |
| Seventy-four were killed and over 1,000 injured. Many died after being trampled under the stampeding crowds or falling from stadium balconies, according to forensic testimony later reported in the state news media. | Seventy-four were killed and over 1,000 injured. Many died after being trampled under the stampeding crowds or falling from stadium balconies, according to forensic testimony later reported in the state news media. |
| It was the worst soccer riot in Egyptian history and among the worst in the world. Many political figures, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood, initially sought to blame a conspiracy orchestrated by Mubarak loyalists or the Interior Ministry. Some even blamed lax oversight by the military council that ruled Egypt at the time. But prosecutors ultimately charged 21 Port Said fans with attacking their Cairo rivals and charged nine security officers with negligence. Six of the convicted fans remain fugitives. | It was the worst soccer riot in Egyptian history and among the worst in the world. Many political figures, including members of the Muslim Brotherhood, initially sought to blame a conspiracy orchestrated by Mubarak loyalists or the Interior Ministry. Some even blamed lax oversight by the military council that ruled Egypt at the time. But prosecutors ultimately charged 21 Port Said fans with attacking their Cairo rivals and charged nine security officers with negligence. Six of the convicted fans remain fugitives. |
| The verdict was awaited with acute anxiety because any outcome risked the fury of the ultras from either Port Said or Cairo. The Cairo ultras staged several raucous protests in recent days, temporarily shutting down subway lines and threatening the Egyptian stock exchange, as warnings of their wrath in the event that the Port Said fans were acquitted. | The verdict was awaited with acute anxiety because any outcome risked the fury of the ultras from either Port Said or Cairo. The Cairo ultras staged several raucous protests in recent days, temporarily shutting down subway lines and threatening the Egyptian stock exchange, as warnings of their wrath in the event that the Port Said fans were acquitted. |
| Because of the fear of violence between the two groups of ultras, the trial was held in Cairo instead of Port Said. For the same reason, the Interior Ministry declined to transfer the defendants to the Cairo courtroom to hear the verdict, leaving them in detention in their home city. | Because of the fear of violence between the two groups of ultras, the trial was held in Cairo instead of Port Said. For the same reason, the Interior Ministry declined to transfer the defendants to the Cairo courtroom to hear the verdict, leaving them in detention in their home city. |
| “The decision was to not pour fuel on fire,” Gen. Mohsen Radi of the Interior Ministry explained in an interview published Saturday in the state newspaper, Al Ahram. | “The decision was to not pour fuel on fire,” Gen. Mohsen Radi of the Interior Ministry explained in an interview published Saturday in the state newspaper, Al Ahram. |
| Most of those killed in Port Said on Saturday died of bullet wounds, security officials said. It was unclear who shot first, but after two security officers were killed the gunfire escalated sharply, security officials said, and all of the other people killed were believed to be civilians. | Most of those killed in Port Said on Saturday died of bullet wounds, security officials said. It was unclear who shot first, but after two security officers were killed the gunfire escalated sharply, security officials said, and all of the other people killed were believed to be civilians. |
| Rioters looted and burned a police barracks and set fire to a police station. They attacked members of the news media, damaging television cameras that sought to film the violence and ending their broadcasts. They closed off all roads into Port Said as well as the railroad station, and the Ministry of Electricity and Energy said rioters had attacked a power facility as well. | Rioters looted and burned a police barracks and set fire to a police station. They attacked members of the news media, damaging television cameras that sought to film the violence and ending their broadcasts. They closed off all roads into Port Said as well as the railroad station, and the Ministry of Electricity and Energy said rioters had attacked a power facility as well. |
| “There is shooting and disturbance everywhere,” Omnia al-Zangeer, 23, a customs worker, said in a telephone interview from her home near the hospital. “There is so much shooting in the streets. The ambulances do not stop.” | “There is shooting and disturbance everywhere,” Omnia al-Zangeer, 23, a customs worker, said in a telephone interview from her home near the hospital. “There is so much shooting in the streets. The ambulances do not stop.” |
| Many complained that while the soccer fans had been sentenced to death for a brawl that killed several dozen people, no police officer or security official had yet been held responsible for the killing of 800 civilian demonstrators during the 18 days of protests that toppled Mr. Mubarak two years ago. The only conviction, against Mr. Mubarak and his interior minister, was overturned this month. | Many complained that while the soccer fans had been sentenced to death for a brawl that killed several dozen people, no police officer or security official had yet been held responsible for the killing of 800 civilian demonstrators during the 18 days of protests that toppled Mr. Mubarak two years ago. The only conviction, against Mr. Mubarak and his interior minister, was overturned this month. |
| “Where are the officers of the Ministry of Interior and the military council in this verdict?” Mahmoud Affifi, a spokesman for the left-leaning April 6 group, told Al Ahram. “Where are those who were responsible for running the gates? Justice won’t be obtained by only punishing and prosecuting civilians.” | “Where are the officers of the Ministry of Interior and the military council in this verdict?” Mahmoud Affifi, a spokesman for the left-leaning April 6 group, told Al Ahram. “Where are those who were responsible for running the gates? Justice won’t be obtained by only punishing and prosecuting civilians.” |
| Adding to the sense of outrage, the judge hearing the case, Sobhi Abdel Megeed, had imposed a complete ban on publishing or broadcasting news from the last two months of the soccer riot trial, including details of the charges, evidence or judicial reasoning. The blackout left the public unable to make any sense of the convictions. | Adding to the sense of outrage, the judge hearing the case, Sobhi Abdel Megeed, had imposed a complete ban on publishing or broadcasting news from the last two months of the soccer riot trial, including details of the charges, evidence or judicial reasoning. The blackout left the public unable to make any sense of the convictions. |
| Saying that the nine security officers remain to be sentenced, Judge Megeed on Saturday renewed the ban, noting that the court had asked the public prosecutor “to move criminal cases against anybody who would violate the publishing ban no matter what their position is.” | Saying that the nine security officers remain to be sentenced, Judge Megeed on Saturday renewed the ban, noting that the court had asked the public prosecutor “to move criminal cases against anybody who would violate the publishing ban no matter what their position is.” |
| Most in Cairo had expected an acquittal. Speculation had centered on the wrath of the capital’s ultras if their attackers walked free. Instead, families of those killed in the soccer riot who were in the courtroom erupted in jubilation when hearing about the death penalty. Relatives held pictures of the victims in the air. Some danced and chanted. A few fainted. And the Cairo ultras celebrated for hours outside their team’s headquarters. | Most in Cairo had expected an acquittal. Speculation had centered on the wrath of the capital’s ultras if their attackers walked free. Instead, families of those killed in the soccer riot who were in the courtroom erupted in jubilation when hearing about the death penalty. Relatives held pictures of the victims in the air. Some danced and chanted. A few fainted. And the Cairo ultras celebrated for hours outside their team’s headquarters. |
| The convicted defendants may appeal the decision. And under longstanding Egyptian law the death sentence is not final until it is approved by Ali Gomaa, the grand mufti, Egypt’s official Muslim religious authority. But that step is usually considered a formality after the decision of a civil judge. | The convicted defendants may appeal the decision. And under longstanding Egyptian law the death sentence is not final until it is approved by Ali Gomaa, the grand mufti, Egypt’s official Muslim religious authority. But that step is usually considered a formality after the decision of a civil judge. |