Saib reopens Mansoura branch after comprehensive renovation    ABE signs cooperation protocol to finance beneficiaries of state-owned lands in Minya    Suez Canal Bank partners with CRIF Egypt to advance sustainability through Synesgy    Russia hits Ukraine with huge barrage as first Australian tanks arrive    Russia unveils 'Kinzhal' interceptor drone to counter low-altitude threats    Lebanon's PM says US proposal includes full Israeli withdrawal, state control of arms    Sandoz Egypt introduces OMNITROPE 15mg biosimilar growth hormone for the treatment of short stature    Egypt After 2025: Navigating a Critical Inflection Point    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Army refused to secure the match: Port Said trial defendant
Published in Daily News Egypt on 23 - 11 - 2014

The Port Said Criminal Court adjourned on Sunday the retrial of the defendants in the "Port Said massacre" case to Monday, state media reported.
A total of 73 people face charges of murder after clashes at a football match in Port Said in February 2012 led to 74 deaths.
The court held the session at the Police Academy Headquarters in Cairo and continued to listen to eyewitnesses. Most of the defendants are fans of Al-Masry football club but among them are also nine police officers, and three Al-Masry club officials.
During the session, state media reported that one of the defendants, the former security director of Port Said Essam Samak, told the court that he asked the armed forces to provide security at the match but his request was met with a refusal. Samak added that the refusal of the army was based on the argument that "fans of Al-Ahly club insulted the [former] Field Marshal [Mohamed] Tantawi, and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces [SCAF]".
The court also listened to the testimony of Colonel Al-Said Shoukry, head of the investigation team of the case. Shoukry told the court that he had not seen any clashes between the fans of the two teams, adding that he only saw the fans targeting security forces with fireworks.
Another witness is a police officer Mohamed Khaled who told the court that a police general ordered the gates to be closed as a safety precaution, and added that there was a vendetta between the fans of the two teams, denying that Al-Masry fans had plans to kill Al-Ahly fans.
The case relates to the Port Said stadium disaster, commonly called the "Port Said massacre", in which 74 supporters of Al-Ahly were killed following a football match. Al-Masry fans stormed the pitch, attacking players and fans. The incident caused the cancellation of the Egyptian Premier League, which did not resume until 2013 and has subsequently been played behind closed doors.
In total there are 73 defendants in the case, sentenced on two separate occasions. The first sentence was delivered in January 2013 in which 21 people were sentenced to death. The second verdict came in March 2013, when the 21 death sentences were ratified, five received life sentences, ten were handed 15 year sentences, two received 5 years and one man received a year sentence. Subsequent appeals have brought about a retrial.


Clic here to read the story from its source.