Egyptian security forces fired teargas Monday evening to disperse a demonstration by around 500 die-hard football fans from the Ultras Ahly group in the eastern Cairo district of Heliopolis near Cairo airport.
Ultras staged the demonstration to demand the release of 25 of their members, who were arrested in confrontations with airport security on Sunday evening.
The protest blocked Salah Salem street, a main road in Heliopolis for less than an hour. No injuries have been reported from its dispersal by security forces thus far.
An Ultras member from the Monday demonstration denied to Ahram’s Arabic news website that protesters intended to march on the airport, amid tightened security measures in the surrounding area.
The detained young men – investigated by prosecution Monday – face charges of storming an airport terminal and assaulting security forces.
Eleven police personnel and two airport workers were injured in the violence, according to airport security.
The Ultras fans were at the airport to receive the Ahly club’s handball team, who were returning from Tunisia after losing the African Cup final.
The official said some of the injured had sustained birdshot wounds.
Security forces at the airport dispersed the crowd with teargas and chased the Ultras from the airport to the outskirts of Cairo’s Nasr City district.
Ultras groups have often clashed with police during demonstrations and football matches, with many members arrested, injured and killed over the last few years.
Source : Ahram
