One dead, 56 injured in Nile island clashes between police and residents

One Nile island resident has died during clashes between police and residents that erupted when security forces tried to demolish illegal buildings in Cairo, on Sunday.

At the funeral of Syed Tafsha – the man who was killed, the bitter residents booed the Police angrily.

The ministry of Interior says violence broke out when Police arrived at al-Warraq island on Sunday morning, to remove encroachers from state-owned land.

Police clash with residents of Al warraq island after attempts to demolish their homes illegally built on state land https://t.co/3oEuLue1Y0

— shahiraamin13 (@sherryamin13) July 17, 2017

What's happening in Al Warraq in Egypt, trying to dismantle an informal settlement by force & making ppl homeless is unconscionable.

— خالتى نزيهة (@7thousandyears) July 17, 2017

At least 37 policemen and 19 residents were injured in the clashes before the Police withdrew to minimise losses.

Since May, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, has been campaigning for the demolition of structures illegally built on state-owned land.

According to a former member of parliament to Giza, about 90 thousand people live on the 1300-acres al-Warraq island.

Reuters