CAIRO: The police officer who is accused by Egyptian protesters in Tahrir Square of shooting protesters in the eye with a rifle was arrested, according to local news sites. An investigation over his involvement in aiming at protesters eyes is due to take place, the reports said. The officer, identified as Mahmoud Sobhy al-Shenawy, 24, a 2009 graduate from the police academy, was featured in a video that was circulated by online activists and in it he aims a rifle and shoots at protesters, only feet away, hitting one in the eye and then is applauded by the surrounding soldiers for his aim. Soon after the video was circulated by online activists on social networks, the general prosecutor ordered an investigation in the matter. Meanwhile, activists in Tahrir announced that the officer is “wanted” and even offered a reward for leads to his capture. The video has angered many in Egypt and helped keep a steady flow of protesters into the square over the past week. Eye injuries increased during last week's clashes with police, including Ahmed Hararah, a protester who lost one eye during the January uprising and lost the second last week, when he was hit with bullet in his eye. Hararah is now an icon of last week's clashes and many activists have called for changing the name of the street where clashes took place, from Mohamed Mahmoud to Ahmed Hararah. Clashes died out after military police built a bulky barricade to separate protesters from police after clashes left over 3,000 injured and at least 70 dead, medical sources have told Bikyamasr.com. Police used expired and banned tear gas on the protesters, live ammunition, Molotov cocktail bottles and rubber bullets. On Saturday morning, one protester died after he was run over by an armored vehicle outside the Egyptian cabinet building where hundreds went on an open ended sit-in to bar the newly appointed Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri from entering the building. BM
