DAKAHLIA: After a bloody battle between police and thugs, security forces in Dakahlia governorate were able to regain control in the village of Aziziya. The battle resulted in the injury of a police officer and two police conscripts, as well as the burning of the Detective Chief's car and some parts of the police station. Governorate authorities mounted a large campaign in the village in cooperation with armed forces Tuesday. The campaign was headed by the Head of Directorate's Investigation, Saeed Omara and Brigadier Fathallah Hosny. Police forces captured a thug, Hamdino Mahmoud el-Mahdy el-Mashaaly, 28. Hamdino was jobless and accused of theft, drugs charges, and attempted murder. He was sentenced in absentia for 10 years. Security sources said they found with him a gun, ammunition, and drugs. After Hamdino was captured, more than 15 thugs surrounded the police station in the village. They barraged the station with gunfire and a Molotov cocktail in an attempt to help el-Mashaaly escape. The battle between thugs and police officers lasted for four hours. Police were able to capture one of the thugs and injured two. Police imposed a curfew inside the village until 8:00 am. Officer Sherif Raouf and two soldiers of central security forces were injured, while Brigadier Magdi Abu Shady was trapped inside the police station. Thugs burned the Detective Chief's car and three police motorcycles outside the police station. The Dakahlia security directorate sent reinforcements to forces inside the village to confront the thugs.
