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2013 Republican Guard headquarters clashes

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 It has been suggested that this article be merged into [[::Islamist protests in Egypt (July 2013–present)|Islamist protests in Egypt (July 2013–present)]]. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2013.
2013 Republican Guard club clashes
Part of the Islamist unrest in Egypt (2013–present)
Date8 July 2013 (2013-07-08) – present
LocationRepublican Guard club
Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
30°04′51″N 31°19′00″E / 30.08083°N 31.3166667°E / 30.08083; 31.3166667Coordinates: 30°04′51″N 31°19′00″E / 30.08083°N 31.3166667°E / 30.08083; 31.3166667
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Pro-Morsi protesters[1]
Supported by:
Muslim Brotherhood Emblem Muslim Brotherhood[2]		 Coat of arms of Egypt (Official)Egyptian Armed Forces
File:Republican Guard Egypt.pngRepublican Guard
Commanders and leaders
Mohammed Badie (Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood) Abdul Fatah al-Sisi (Supreme Commander & Defense Minister)
Units involved
Egyptian Republican Guard
Egyptian Army
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
100 protesters killed[2] 3 military and security personnel killed[2]
Figures as of 11 July 2013[2]

Coup d'état

Unrest
Bombings
  • Mansoura
  • Cairo
Other incidents


On the morning of 8 July 2013 at the Republican Guard Club in Cairo, Egypt there was a clash between protesters seeking the return of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, and the military, who were protecting the institution. At least 51 protesters seeking the return of Morsi to power were killed and more than 435 injured in the clashes, in what has been deemed as a massacre by the Muslim Brotherhood and those opposed to the recent coup d'état.[3] Amnesty International has condemned the military's disproportionate use of force, with a spokesperson stating, "Even if some protesters used violence, the response was disproportionate and led to the loss of life and injury among peaceful protesters."[4]

Background[]

See also: June 2013 Egyptian protests, 2013 Egyptian coup d'état, and Islamist unrest in Egypt (2013–present)

Incident[]

According to some witnesses, the military opened fire without provocation towards the end of morning prayers, immediately using live ammunition and shooting to kill.[5] Gehad El-Haddad, the Muslim Brotherhood's spokesman, claimed that the military opened fire at the protesters while they were praying in front of the Republican Guard and staging a peaceful sit-in.[3] One witness claimed that protestors had their backs to the Republic Guard building, as they were praying towards Mecca.[6] others claimed that the incident was after prayers.[7] some protestors claimed that police officer Mohamed el-Mesairy was sheltering in his parked car when he was killed by military gunfire striking the car.[5]

According to the military, a "terrorist group" tried to storm the Republican Guard headquarters and that it had retaliated by opening fire at the attackers. A military spokesman reported that an officer was killed and six troops were injured before adding that 42 troops were injured and eight were in critical condition.[3] An amateur video recording showed people holding guns from the side of the protesters during daylight.[6][8]

Investigation[]

Preliminary investigations showed that the crime scene contained firearms, ammunition, Freedom and Justice Party membership cards, explosives that contained pieces of glass, smoke grenades and a document that contained a list of names with monetary values next to it.[9]

The army said it had arrested over 200 people, with "large quantities of firearms, ammunition and Molotov cocktails".[10]

Domestic response[]

  • The Presidency ordered the formation of a Judicial committee to investigate the killings at the "raid against the Republican Guard headquarters".[11]
  • The National Salvation Front condemned "all acts of violence" and called for an investigation over the incident.[12]
  • The Nour Party objected to the incident and stated that they would stop participating in the political transition.[3]
  • The Freedom and Justice Party called for "the international community and international groups and all the free people of the world to intervene to stop further massacres [...] and prevent a new Syria in the Arab world."[13][14]
  • Former Presidential candidate and Strong Egypt Party leader Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh called for interim president Adly Mansour to step down in response to the clashes.[15]

International response[]

  • Flag of Germany Germany - The Foreign Ministry said that it was "dismayed" over reports of the violence and called for a "speedy clarification" by an independent body into the incident.[16]
  • Flag of Iran Iran - The Foreign Ministry published a statement about recent conflicts in Egypt: "Expressing concern about Egypt's internal conflicts, we stressed the need for strict adherence to the democratic process in this country."[17]
  • Flag of Palestine Palestine Hamas expressed "extreme pain and grief for the falling of these victims".[18]
  • Flag of Qatar Qatar - Qatar expressed "great concern" over the incident.[18]
  • Flag of Turkey Turkey - Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu wrote on Twitter: "I strongly condemn the massacre that took place at morning prayers in the name of basic human values."[18]
  • Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom - Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "There is an urgent need for calm and restraint".[18]

References[]

  1. ↑ David Greene; Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson (8 July 2013). "Dozens Die In Clashes Outside Cairo's Republican Guard HQ". http://www.npr.org/2013/07/08/199929861/the-latest-news-from-egypt. Retrieved 11 July 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "At least 54 killed in clashes at Cairo Republican Guard Club". 11 July 2013. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/08/at-least-5-dead-in-new-egypt-clashes/. Retrieved 11 July 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "51 dead, 435 hurt in clashes near pro-Morsi sit-in". nbcnews. Jul 8, 2013. http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/08/19347026-51-dead-435-hurt-in-clashes-near-pro-morsi-sit-in. 
  4. ↑ "Egypt: Damning evidence points to security forces’ failures". Amnesty International. http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/egypt-damning-evidence-points-security-forces-failures-2013-07-09. Retrieved 10 July 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 New York Times, 8 July 2013, Army Kills 51, Deepening Crisis in Egypt
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Egypt coup: July 8 as it happened". 08 Jul 2013. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/10166063/Egypt-coup-July-8-as-it-happened.html. 
  7. ↑ "Cairo clashes: 'I saw both sides shooting at each other from my balcony'". 08 Jul 2013. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/10167263/Cairo-clashes-I-saw-both-sides-shooting-at-each-other-from-my-balcony.html. 
  8. ↑ ""Video" masked gunmen between supporters of Morsi during clashes "Republican guard"" (in Arabic). 8 July 2013. http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/1928316. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 
  9. ↑ Qaraa, Ibrahim (8 July 2013). "Prosecution: A list of names with the sums of money received at the location of the "Clashes of the Republican Guard"" (in Arabic). http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/1928746. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 
  10. ↑ The Guardian, 8 July 2013, Egypt braced for more violence after 'massacre' of Morsi supporters
  11. ↑ "Egypt presidency forms judicial committee to investiage Rep. Guard killings". 8 July 2013. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/76014.aspx. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Egypt's National Salvation Front condemns Rep. Guard HQ violence". 8 July 2013. http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/76005/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-National-Salvation-Front-condemns-Rep-Guard.aspx. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Muslim Brotherhood calls for Egypt uprising". 8 July 2013. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/07/20137872812532255.html. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 
  14. ↑ ""Freedom and Justice" asks for international intervention "to avoid Egypt transformation to Syria"" (in Arabic). Al Masry Al youm. July 8, 2013. http://www.almasryalyoum.com/node/1928331. 
  15. ↑ "UPDATE 5: 42 die in clashes between Egypt army and pro-Morsi protesters". 8 July 2013. http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/75982/Egypt/Politics-/UPDATE---die-in-clashes-between-Egypt-army-and-pro.aspx. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 
  16. ↑ "Governments condemn shootings in Egypt". 8 July 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130708/eu-egypt-reaction-glance/. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 
  17. ↑ Iran's reaction to the Egypt's clashes
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "World governments condemn shootings in Egypt". 8 July 2013. http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/76020/Egypt/Politics-/World-governments-condemn-shootings-in-Egypt.aspx. Retrieved 8 July 2013. 

External links[]

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