A bloodstained seat in Port Said stadium following Egypt's deadly football night. (Photo: Reuters)
Thousands of protesters in the city of Port Said marched on the city stadium Friday afternoon to condemn the killing of at least 75 football fans in the stadium Wednesday night.
The violence that erupted right afte a football match between Port Said's Masry and Cairo's Ahly teams led to the killing of at least 74 fans, mostly from Ultras Ahly, as thousands of alleged Masry fans stormed the pitch immediately after the final whistle, chasing Ahly players and technical staff members.
Some protesters were able to enter the stadium to examine the aftermath for themselves; and they captured an armed man whom they recognised as one of the assailants in the stadium, according to MP and member of People's Assembly fact-finding commission into the events Alaa El-Bahaie. El-Bahaie says the suspect was recognised thanks to a photo taken of him attacking Ahly fans during the deadly football night, adding that the man admitted to participating in the attack on being seized by protesters.
Protesters in Port Said marched in mourning of the victims killed, chanting against the current ruling military council and accusing authorities of inciting the riots.
The Port Said disaster is the deadliest episode football-related violence Egypt has ever witnessed. It also marks the highest death toll for one night since the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak in February upon the January 25 popular uprising.
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