BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen tweeted that he was hit by shotgun pellets in Cairo on Friday as thousands of angry Islamists took to the streets to protest the ouster of Mohamed Morsi.
BBC reporter @BowenBBC hit in the head with birdshot. He's ok. pic.twitter.com/2ihAmOvpDL
— Sharif Kouddous (@sharifkouddous) July 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/353168888038567937
Many reports indicate that three pro-Morsi demonstrators were shot to death by Egyptian security forces outside the barracks where Morsi is thought to be held. NBC’s Richard Engel reports four dead.
Field medics tell us 4 killed from #morsi supporters in clashes in nasr city #egypt. Injuries i saw appear to be from shotguns
— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) July 5, 2013
And the New York Times reports five deaths as raging protesters confronted security forces outside the barracks.
Conflicting reports about who was responsible for the shooting abound. The Egyptian army reportedly denies shooting live ammunition. Here’s a Twitter report from a UK Independent correspondent in Cairo:
Earlier tweets from eyewitness said army shot dead man. Other multiple eyewitnesses saying it was police
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
CORR: It was also police who were firing tear gas, not military it seems
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
Clarification on shooting…
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
Man says guy walked up to barbed wire carrying pic of Morsi
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
Army told him not to cross a certain point and come too close.
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
He arrived with march from Rabaa
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
Along with others he crossed the point forbidden by troops
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
Then shots rang out. But multiple witnesses said it was NOT troops firing at civilians
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
Two witnesses said the death was caused by men in civilian clothes. Army was firing, but in air.
— Alastair Beach (@Alastair_Beach) July 5, 2013
Unconfirmed and graphic video from the scene is making the rounds:
Two different video angles of a pro-morsi protester shot while facing the army line. #egypt http://t.co/2o59oJWT7X https://t.co/rwJ0CBKXM1
— Cliff Cheney (@cliffcheney) July 5, 2013
Twitchy will continue to monitor the Friday of Rage throughout the day.
Related:
Join the conversation as a VIP Member