This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24156197
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Egyptian forces raid pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa | Egyptian forces raid pro-Morsi town of Kerdasa |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Egyptian security forces are fighting gun battles in a town near Cairo after launching an operation targeting "criminal and terrorist hotbeds". | |
| At least 28 suspected militants have been held in Kerdasa, state TV says. | At least 28 suspected militants have been held in Kerdasa, state TV says. |
| But several hours after the operation started, security forces were having to take cover from gunfire. | But several hours after the operation started, security forces were having to take cover from gunfire. |
| Eleven police officers were killed at a police station in Kerdasa last month, weeks after the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July. | Eleven police officers were killed at a police station in Kerdasa last month, weeks after the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July. |
| Soldiers went into Kerdasa at about 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Thursday, backed by helicopters. | |
| State media said a senior policeman had died in clashes with militants. | State media said a senior policeman had died in clashes with militants. |
| Reporting from the centre of the town the BBC's Quentin Sommerville said security forces were exchanging fire with unidentified gunmen who appeared to have taken up positions in a number of buildings in the town. | |
| Security forces were having to take cover behind buildings, our correspondent added. | |
| Earlier residents had told the BBC that security forces were searching homes in Kerdasa for members of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement. | Earlier residents had told the BBC that security forces were searching homes in Kerdasa for members of Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement. |
| Another state TV report said that one of those arrested on Thursday was Ahmad Uways, the man accused of killing the head of Kerdasa police station on 14 August. | |
| 'Down with Sisi' | 'Down with Sisi' |
| In the hours before police and soldiers moved in, the mood in the town was defiant, our correspondent says. | In the hours before police and soldiers moved in, the mood in the town was defiant, our correspondent says. |
| Thousands of people attended a pro-Morsi rally on Wednesday night amid shouts of "Down with Sisi", referring to the head of the army. | Thousands of people attended a pro-Morsi rally on Wednesday night amid shouts of "Down with Sisi", referring to the head of the army. |
| The authorities had promised to respond to the deadly attack on the police station in August. | The authorities had promised to respond to the deadly attack on the police station in August. |
| According to state media, Assistant Interior Minister for Central Security Maj Gen Ashraf Abdullah met troops shortly before the mission began. | According to state media, Assistant Interior Minister for Central Security Maj Gen Ashraf Abdullah met troops shortly before the mission began. |
| After performing dawn prayers, the troops began taking their positions in armoured vehicles ready for the start of the operation, Mena reported. | After performing dawn prayers, the troops began taking their positions in armoured vehicles ready for the start of the operation, Mena reported. |
| State-run Nile News TV later showed live pictures of army vehicles positioned in Kerdasa and other armoured vehicles moving in the area. | State-run Nile News TV later showed live pictures of army vehicles positioned in Kerdasa and other armoured vehicles moving in the area. |
| Military roadblocks outside Kerdasa prevented people from entering the area, our correspondent says. "I can't be responsible if you get shot," an officer was heard telling a local man. | Military roadblocks outside Kerdasa prevented people from entering the area, our correspondent says. "I can't be responsible if you get shot," an officer was heard telling a local man. |
| An Egyptian interior ministry spokesman told Nile News: "There are still some armed elements on rooftops in Kerdasa and we are currently dealing with them." | An Egyptian interior ministry spokesman told Nile News: "There are still some armed elements on rooftops in Kerdasa and we are currently dealing with them." |
| In a separate incident on Thursday, several metro lines in the capital were disrupted after two suspected bombs were found on the tracks near Hilmiyat al-Zaytun station in the south of Cairo. | In a separate incident on Thursday, several metro lines in the capital were disrupted after two suspected bombs were found on the tracks near Hilmiyat al-Zaytun station in the south of Cairo. |
| Security officials said bomb experts were dispatched to the scene and services are now running again. | Security officials said bomb experts were dispatched to the scene and services are now running again. |
| An interior ministry official later told AFP the devices were "fake". | An interior ministry official later told AFP the devices were "fake". |
| 'Outsiders' | 'Outsiders' |
| At least 1,000 people - including about 100 police officers - have died in unrest following President Morsi's removal from power. | At least 1,000 people - including about 100 police officers - have died in unrest following President Morsi's removal from power. |
| The deadliest incidents took place when security forces moved in to disperse two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo last month. | The deadliest incidents took place when security forces moved in to disperse two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo last month. |
| Kerdasa, known for producing and selling textiles, is 14km (8.7 miles) from Cairo. | Kerdasa, known for producing and selling textiles, is 14km (8.7 miles) from Cairo. |
| Residents were quoted on Wednesday saying they did not trust police: "We know they will come to arrest people we know and respect, whom they blame for the violence that we know was done by outsiders, not by our respectable sheikhs," Ahmed Aly told Reuters news agency. | Residents were quoted on Wednesday saying they did not trust police: "We know they will come to arrest people we know and respect, whom they blame for the violence that we know was done by outsiders, not by our respectable sheikhs," Ahmed Aly told Reuters news agency. |
| "Eleven policemen were killed here, but so too were 11 people from Kerdasa killed at Rabaa," another resident told the BBC, referring to one of the pro-Morsi camps in Cairo cleared by the police. | |
| Pictures of Mr Morsi are still in evidence on many buildings and lampposts in the town, our correspondent reports, leaving little doubt over where many people's allegiances lie. | |
| On Monday, Egyptian forces arrested dozens of residents during a raid on pro-Morsi supporters in the town of Delga, Minya province, about 300km south of Cairo. |