CAIRO - The American University in Cairo (AUC) denied media reports that it allowed snipers to fire at protesters during the anti-Mubarak revolt. “On January 28, the security of the Tahrir Square campus was breached. The long-unused gate in front of the Palace Building was forced open by individuals the university believes to have been protesters from Tahrir Square and the entrance from Sheikh Rihan Street was forcibly opened by individuals we believe to have been police from the Ministry of the Interior. Fighting took place throughout the building, including on the roof,” Lisa Anderson, the AUC President said in a statement. “Windows were broken and a number of the offices of the AUC Press, which is housed in the Palace Building, were looted. The AUC security regained control of the building and the rest of the grounds of the University after about four hours. The cornice of the roof was damaged; there was considerable blood on the roof and in the stairwell of the building as well as broken glass throughout. AUC security collected spent shells and tear gas canisters in and around the building,” she added. According to Anderson, the Auc has its own security staff and does not use armed police or state security on campus. “The presence of any such personnel on our Tahrir Square campus, which was closed at the time, was illegal and counter to all University policies and procedures. Under no circumstances did AUC invite or agree to the use of force on its campus.”
