Egypt began three days of mourning on Thursday after 74 people were killed in an eruption of violence at a football match that sparked new anger against the military rulers for failing to ensure security.
The rioting Wednesday night in Port Said marked one of the deadliest incidents in football history and sent shares on the Cairo stock exchange plunging 4.6 per cent in Thursday morning trade. The government moved swiftly to sack the Port Said security chief while Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzuri summoned his Cabinet for an emergency meeting.
Clashes erupted as soon as the referee blew the final whistle in a match which saw home team Al-Masri beat Cairo’s Al-Ahly 3-1. Al-Masri fans flooded the pitch, throwing rocks, bottles and fireworks at Al-Ahly supporters, causing chaos and panic as players and fans ran in all directions trying to flee, witnesses said. Photos of bleeding players circulated on the Internet.
Gunfire was also reported on the main road leading to Port Said from Cairo, and troops were deployed to prevent further clashes. State TV ran footage of riot police standing rigidly in rows as pandemonium erupted around them.
Interior minister Mohammed Ibrahim has said most of the deaths were caused by the crush but medics said some people were stabbed. The police said 47 people had been arrested. The clashes were blamed by the Muslim Brotherhood on supporters of fallen president Hosni Mubarak. —AFP