CAIRO: An Egyptian hospital near the frontlines of the ongoing clashes between police and protesters reported to have received five cases of activists being shot with live ammunition early Saturday morning. The Mounira General Hospital reported that it received 32 injured persons from the clashes on Qasr el-Aini Street near Tahrir Square, including five people shot “with live fire” and who remain in critical condition. Other field hospitals confirmed to Bikyamasr.com that birdshot was increasing and they were receiving dozens of injured over the past few hours as the police turn towards using the birdshot, and allegedly live fire, against the protesters. Mahmoud Said, the director of reception and emergency at the hospital, told al-Badil newspaper that five cases of “gunshot wounds, including cases in the chest were seen” at the hospital. He added that the victims had been transferred to Hussein Hospital in order to stabilize the gunshot victims. The hospital also said that the live fire injuries included bullets to the stomach, chest and neck. Said added that “there are three cases among the wounded with eye injuries” after being shot in the face. This is likely to anger activists more after the past two years has seen protesters lose their eyes after being shot by police during protests. The doctor added that the other cases of injured range between cuts and bruises, abrasions and a tear gas inhalation. The ministry of health has reported over 175 injured in the ongoing clashes, which have slowed in intensity on Saturday after massive firings of tear gas late Friday evening. The hospital also confirmed that once a protester was treated for their injuries, they were allowed to leave the facility without fear of being arrested, as other activists had been earlier last week at the Qasr el-Aini hospital.
