Unknown assailants reportedly attacked protesters in the Egyptian city of Port Said late Thursday evening, leaving at least 14 activists injured, one activist present in the city told Bikyamasr.com via telephone. “Over 1,000 people are in the square now and the attack happened two hours ago from thugs that had whips, knives and swords,” Mahmoud Qandeel told Bikymasr.com, in reference to the ongoing sit-in at Port Said's central al-Mansheya Square. Qandeel added that no serious injuries had occurred, but a 12-year-old boy was cut by a knife in the attack. One of the protesters called General Adel al-Ghadban to come to the demonstrators' rescue and the activists were told that they have to “protect themselves,” Qandeel added. All the general said he was willing to do was send ambulances to aid those injured. Qandeel quoted al-Ghadban as saying “it is not my job to send a security force,” when the activist phoned the general. Those injured are currently being treated at the makeshift civil hospital that has been established in the square, while others have been sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. According to Qandeel, who has been updating followers on Twitter minute-by-minute, the first victim of the attack has gone to the military police to file a report, but was met with a refusal from the military authorities. Protesters in Port Said have been at the square in a solidarity protest with those in Cairo's Tahrir Square demanding quicker reforms, speedy trials for former President Hosni Mubarak and his cronies and an end to military trials of civilians. BM
