Egypt’s security forces constructed three new walls Sunday morning surrounding the Ministry of Interior, following another night of fierce fighting between security forces and protesters. The walls barricade the Mohamed Mahmoud Street entrance to Fahmy, Mansour and El-Falaky Streets and take the total number of concrete barriers built by the army and the police in the downtown area to eight, since November 2011.

In the wake of last week’s bloody attacks following a football match in Port Said, Egypt’s Central Security Forces (CSF) have used tear gas, bird shot and rubber bullets against protesters, who had gathered in front of the Ministry of Interior to protest the police’s gross mishandling of the attacks.

On 1 February, following an Ahly-Masry football match, armed spectators from Masry’s seating area flooded the pitch, attacking Ahly supporters and members of their hard-core group, Ultras Ahlawy. The bloody attack left 74 dead.  

The CSF began building the first 12ft concrete block wall at approximately 3am Sunday morning on Fahmy Street. By 5am they had started building the largest wall on Mansour Street, adjacent to the ministry. Later Sunday morning, as clashes broke out once again between protesters and security forces, the final wall on El-Falaky Street was completed.  Unidentified groups have now formed human chains separating protesters from police, chanting, “Those who love Egypt should not destroy Egypt” in order to enforce the ceasefire which started at approximately 2pm.