An Egyptian court has sentenced to death 21 defendants over clashes between rival football fans in which 74 people were killed in February 2012.
The riots - Egypt's worst-ever football disaster - began after a top-league game at Port Said stadium.
The ruling sparked a clash outside Port Said prison, where defendants are held, with two police officers shot dead.
The sentences came after clashes erupted on the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
Thousands of people took to the streets on Friday to voice their opposition to Islamist At least seven people were killed and more than 450 wounded in unrest across Egypt.
Last year's football riots led to the suspension of the league.
They began minutes after the game in Port Said. Fans of local side al-Masry fans invaded the pitch, hurling stones and fireworks at visiting supporters from Cairo club al-Ahly.
The violence in Port Said sparked riots in Cairo during which a further 16 people died.
A section of al-Ahly supporters, known as the "ultras", played a prominent role in the protests against ex-President Mubarak.
Some accused supporters of the toppled leader of instigating the Port Said violence. They also accused of doing little to prevent it.
When the death sentences were announced on Saturday, relatives of victims cheered in the courtroom.
However supporters and relatives of those sentenced tried to storm Port Said prison. Two policemen were killed in the clash, security officials said.
Seventy-three people, including policemen, were tried over the stadium clashes.
The judge said he would announce the verdict for the remaining 52 defendants on 9 March.
No comments:
Post a Comment