Two officers killed, man dies as Friday protests underway

Two army officers shot dead in drive-by shootings, while man dies in east Cairo amid clashes

6 Army officers were injured by bomb throwing on their armor vehicles in sharkia

Two army officers were killed in drive-by shootings while a man was shot dead amid clashes in Cairo between police and protesters, as planned Islamist demonstrations kicked off in the capital and other governorates on Friday.

The ultraconservative Salafist Front had called for nationwide protests on Friday against the government and in favor of the preservation of Egypt's "Islamic identity". 

The two officers were shot early in the morning, with the first killed on Gesr Al-Suez Street in eastern Cairo, and the second in the Abu-Zaabal area of Qalioubiya governorate, north of Cairo.



Lut. salah hosieny 28 years old one of the injured i the incedent in Abu Kebir Sharkya

Two others – an officer and a conscript - were injured in the Qalioubiya incident and have been transferred to hospital, the army said in a statement, as reported.

Meanwhile, a man died from gunshot wounds sustained near clashes in the east Cairo district of Matariya, a spokesman for the health ministry told .

the ministry of health has announced the injury of 6 army officers and soldiers by bomb throwing on their armor by unknown and they were transferred to the hospital and the security authorities checking all the area now and making a wide spread for further investigations

It is unclear whether he was taking part in the protests or was passing by.

The violence occurred despite heightened security across Egypt in anticipation of a call for mass Islamist protests on Friday. Cairo was largely calm after Friday midday prayers, with security forces deployed in major squares and at key buildings.

Police said earlier in the day that 107 alleged members of the Muslim Brotherhood had been arrested for intending to carry out acts of violence,

Also, police said that seven bombs were defused in four governorates, including Cairo - a near-daily occurrence since the ouster of Islamist ousted Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

The Brotherhood, from which Morsi hails, has endorsed the Salafist Front's call for protests.

Several other Islamist groups, however, including the Salafist Nour Party and former Brotherhood allies the Wasat Party and Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya movement have rejected the demonstrations.