At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in Egypt Sunday, amid violent clashes, on the fourth anniversary of the country's 2011 uprising.
Egyptian authorities said the scene turned violet in Cairo amid clashes between police and protesters who support ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Demonstrators gathered near Tahrir Square, the historic site of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, where millions of people called for the ouster of then-President Hosni Mubarak.
Protests heightened in the week leading up to Sunday's anniversary. Most of the 13 deaths took place in Cairo's eastern Matariyah district — an Islamist stronghold where police clashed with supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. Nine protesters and one police conscript were killed in the clashes, the officials said. As of Sunday, 134 protesters were arrested across Egypt.
Tear gas and bird shot fired at rally outside journalists syndicate pic.twitter.com/GoApLckkST— shahiraamin13 (@sherryamin13) January 25, 2015
Tear gas gunned down at Ramsis st. protest and protesters are trying to escape through downtown streets. #Jan25— Reem Khorshid (@ReemKhorshid) January 25, 2015
Shooting in adly street right now. Police closing the street #cairo #Egypt #revolution #25jan #anniversary— Vinciane Jacquet (@VincianeJacquet) January 25, 2015
#AntiCoup protesters lit fire to overcome electricity cut off in Matariyah, protest still ongoing pic.twitter.com/ijalGc8V0Tvia @AbD_ElrhMaN0— Islam Abdel-Rahman (@IslamRahman) January 25, 2015
Another two people died when an explosive device they were planting under a high-voltage tower in the Nile Delta exploded prematurely, security officials said. One protester in the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria was also killed, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The news comes just one day after the death of protester Shaimaa al-Sabbagh,, a member of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, who was reportedly shot with birdshot fired by local security forces on Saturday. An emotional photo of a man believed to be her husband shows him embracing al-Sabbagh's bloodied body after she was shot, as well as an image of al-Sabbagh protesting before the incident, circulated online.
Hundreds of people reportedly attended al-Sabbagh's funeral on Sunday, which was held in her hometown of Alexandria. A large flag with a painting of al-Sabbagh and the word "martyr" written next to her name accompanied the crowded funeral march.
On Friday, a 17-year-old local student named Sondos Rida Abu Bakr was reportedly killed while protesting in Alexandria.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press