Last night saw clashes outside Azbakia police station in Cairo when a group of citizens attempted to storm the station in retaliation of the supposed torture and killing of a driver. The Egyptian armed forces stepped in and managed to control the situation. Rumors had circulated that the driver was killed by the citizens in Ramsis square after he assaulted a police officer. The residents of Azbakia cooperated with the police and armed forces to impose a security cordon around the police station and to defend it. Security measures impeded the movement of traffic in al-Galaa Street so the traffic police arranged a detour. The demonstrators tried to storm the police station, using Molotov cocktails, firearms and knives. The policemen used tear gas to disperse the protests. The clashes left a number of people injured as well as a burnt Central Security car. A security source in the Interior Ministry said a bus stopped in the middle of the road during attempts to organize traffic, impeding the traffic flow even more. The officer demanded the driver follow the traffic regulations and stop in the proper area. The driver insulted and assaulted the officer and refused to show his driver's license. The driver's action raised the anger of nearby citizens, who interfered to prevent him from escaping. The driver is called "Mohamed M. S." from Qaliobeya. He had been accused in eight cases. He suffered from bruises resulting from the citizens' assault. The driver felt exhausted after being referred to the prosecution, so he was transferred to al-Demerdash hospital, where he died. His family headed to the police station, accusing its officers of killing him.
