Egypt police on alert after Israeli embassy attack

By Maggie Michael

Associated Press

Published: Saturday, Sept. 10 2011 12:06 a.m. MDT

View 2 photos »

Thousands of Egyptian protesters pray at Tahrir Square, the focal point of the Egyptian uprising, in Cairo, Egypt Friday, Sept.9, 2011, during a protest labeled Correcting the Path where thousands gathered demanding a clear road map to democracy and an end to military trials for civilians.

Amr Nabil, Associated Press

Summary

Egypt put its police force on a state of alert after a night of violence during which angry protesters broke into the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, tearing down a cement barrier around the building and dumping documents out of the windows.

CAIRO — Egypt put its police force on a state of alert after a night of violence during which angry protesters broke into the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, tearing down a cement barrier around the building and dumping documents out of the windows.

The rampage further worsened already deteriorating ties between Israel and post-Hosni Mubarak Egypt. The Israeli ambassador and his family had rushed to the airport and left the country.

The state MENA news agency says 448 people were injured in overnight clashes between thousands of protesters and police, who fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Forty-six policemen were also hurt and 17 protesters were arrested.

Egypt's state TV says the interior ministry on Saturday ordered all officers back on duty and canceled vacations.

Comments