Bloodbath in Egypt as police storm camps of Morsi protesters

Number of deaths conflicting as Muslim Brotherhood claim hundreds while authorities say a dozen
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Scores of people were feared killed in Egypt today in a bloody assault on camps of protesters supporting ousted president Mohammed Morsi.

Security forces were said to have opened fire with machine guns at one camp packed with thousands of demonstrators — including women and young children.

Snipers were also reported to have picked off targets.

But pictures released by the Egyptian authorities appeared to show gunmen firing on police as they moved in to clear the camps.

Supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood gesture as Egyptian security forces move in to disperse their protest camp
AFP/Getty

Conflicting reports of the death toll were emerging, with some putting it as high as 250 while government sources insisted it was far lower. Journalists reported counting at least 43 bodies.

Just after 7am heavily armed security forces stormed two camps in Cairo.

Helicopters hovered overhead while police fired tear gas and drove armoured vehicles and bulldozers through sand-bag and brick barricades.

The smaller Nahda Square camp was cleared by late morning but fighting continued at the Rabaa Al-Adawiya camp in the eastern Nasr City district.

Reports suggested a horrific massacre had taken place as security forces moved in. One witness, Bel Trew, said there was “very fierce street fighting on all the side streets surrounding the encampment”.

Deaths: the Muslim brotherhood is reporting scores killed in clashes in Cairo

TShe told the Standard: “They are firing at members of the press, local residents and relatives of those people inside the sit-in and those trying to access the sit-in.

“What I can gather speaking to people inside is that there are very heavy injuries with fatalities. Gunshot wounds are largely, they say, to the face, the head and the chest.

“From reports I’ve also heard that injured people have been turned away from hospitals.”

The Muslim Brotherhood, which wants Mr Morsi reinstated, claimed more than 200 people had been killed in the assault and thousands injured.

Ms Trew added: “I was told that the smoke is probably because they’re burning the tents. There are women and children inside the encampment. As far as I know they were not evacuated before the attack.

“Relatives of those trapped inside are absolutely distraught.

“The security forces and the government had promised they would peacefully clear the sit-in but as far as I can see that hasn’t happened.”

Amid claims that television cameramen had been shot, France’s AFP confirmed it had seen at least 43 bodies. Sky News reported that dead babies had been seen at the camp.

Television showed plumes of black smoke rising above Rabaa Al-Adawiya, at the centre of which thousands of protesters congregated, many wearing gas masks or covering their faces.

Updated Twitter images showed badly injured and bloody demonstrators as the siege continued.

The Interior Ministry warned that forces would deal firmly with protesters acting “irresponsibly” but said safe passage would be granted to those wanting to leave.

But a statement from the Muslim Brotherhood said: “The world cannot sit back and watch while innocent men, women and children are being indiscriminately slaughtered. The world must stand up to the military junta’s crime before it is too late.”

One witness, Murad Ahmed, said he had seen 15 bodies at a field hospital beside one of the camps after bulldozers cleared protesters’ tents. He said: “It is nasty inside, they are destroying our tents. We can’t breath inside and many people are in hospital.”

While the government was yet to confirm any protester deaths the state news agency announced the “martyrdom” of a police officer and a conscript involved in the operation. It was also reported that a number of Muslim Brotherhood leaders were arrested.

Mr Morsi’s supporters also fought with security forces in the cities of Minya and Assiut.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the government advised people to stay away from demonstrations or any large gatherings.

She said: “We are concerned by reports of violence in Cairo, and call on all sides to show restraint.”

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