Egypt's 'sniper of the eyes' referred to criminal court

Ahram Online, Sunday 15 Apr 2012

Police officer accused of targeting protesters' eyes is referred to criminal court along with 379 demonstrators arrested during November's Mohamed Mahmoud St. clashes

Mahmoud El-Shenawy
The 'sniper of the eyes' Mahmoud Wahid El Shennawy (Photo: Internet)

Prosecutors on Sunday referred Egyptian police officer Mahmoud El-Shenawy to a criminal court. El-Shenawy is accused of deliberately targeting the eyes of unarmed protesters during clashes with police near the interior ministry last November.

El-Shenawy was arrested last year following the appearance online of footage showing him firing at demonstrators near Cairo's Tahrir Square during November's Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes as Central Security Forces personnel cheered him on.                           

The police officer, whom activists refer to as "the sniper of the eyes,” denied the charges during questioning, insisting that he had not used, or even carried, live ammunition during last year's infamous standoff against protesters which left 40 dead and hundreds injured.

El-Shenawy now faces charges of attempted murder against five victims whose eyes he allegedly targeted with shotguns loaded with birdshot.

In the same case, 379 protesters have also been charged with illegal assembly and resisting authorities. They were also referred to criminal court on Sunday.

Short link: