Located between Cairo and Alexandria, Tanta is the capital of the northern Egyptian governorate of Gharbia.
Tanta Public Prosecution ordered the suspension of circus activities on Wednesday, issuing a decree to form a committee from the Veterinary Medicine Authority to inspect all animals at a local Tanta circus.
In addition, the prosecution dispatched a team to inspect the accident site, review surveillance footage, and interview the injured worker, his colleagues, and eyewitnesses from the audience.
On Tuesday evening, during a circus show in the city of Tanta, a tiger suddenly attacked a circus worker, resulting in the amputation of his arm.
The attack caused panic among spectators attending the circus performance, which had begun on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.
The incident was recorded on a video that went viral in Egypt.
The victim, a circus worker, suffered severe injuries when a white tiger mauled his arm during a performance. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where a four-hour surgery involving general surgery, vascular, orthopaedic, and plastic specialists was conducted.
Due to the extent of the injuries, doctors were forced to amputate his arm above the elbow to save his life.
Anousa Kouta, the lion and tiger trainer present with the animals when the incident happened, provided details to the media, stating that the attack occurred when a worker outside the enclosure extended his arm inside.
A tiger then grabbed his hand, prompting trainers and assistants to intervene and rescue him. She emphasized that no audience members were harmed and that all circus staff were accounted for following the incident.
Kouta confirmed that the injured worker was transferred to Tanta University Emergency Hospital and that she remained by his side to monitor his condition. She also announced that the tiger involved in the attack would be removed from performances and sent for retraining in Cairo.
Eyewitnesses reported that panic spread among the audience as the attack unfolded. Spectators fled the venue in fear, prompting circus management to halt the show immediately.
Ten years ago, Tanta also witnessed a similar incident after a lion attacked its trainer, renowned lion and tiger trainer Faten El-Helw.
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