Algerian Security Services in high alert: “Emergency raise to second degree and clashes leave 150 injured”

Algerian security services arrested, since the launch of spark protests, 60 people in Algiers, especially in Bab Eloued, Babezzouar and Bache djarrah, while investigation is still ongoing with people suspected of being implicated in damaging state and public properties, while 30 policemen injured during the clashes including officers who were seriously injured.

For their part, services of gendarmerie arrested 10 people implicated in rioting and incitement, while services of civil protection at the national level transferred 150 wounded, 80 from Algiers, to hospitals for necessary treatment.

Echorouk sources said the largest process of arrest came following an attack against “Nedjma” Communication Company in Bebezzouar by a group of protesters, 25 of them were taken to the urban security headquarters for investigation.

Echorouk informed sources said both General Command of Gendarmerie and the General Directorate of Security, as well as the General Directorate of Civil Protection give instructions to their various units in order to stay on high alert to face any bypass or sliding accompanied by a wave of protests in the Algerian cities, asserting on the need to avoid using real bullets against civilians.

Same sources added that the security services announced on a state of emergency of second degree, after it was in a first degree on Thursday, and it could be submitted to third degree, the maximum of alerts in case destruction of public properties will continue, thing which means that security cervices cannot leave their positions night and day to stay in full preparation for any emergency.

Instructions by security services to their various units were ordered by the PM Ahmed Ouyahia, came following a number of abuses by some desperate groups, which exploited these conditions for criminality, as there were many robberies and theft, targeting the headquarters of posts, banks and tax authorities, as happened Thursday night at about 8:00 pm in Mer et Soleil in Hussein Day, where a group of masked men burned rubber wheels near the center of taxes and break the doors and windows to steal computers and some material, in addition to destruction of many files. The same thing happened in Reghaia.

Sources from the General Directorate of National Security denied existence of injuries because of firearms among civilians, asserting that there was warning shots only to disperse the protesters, in accordance with the instructions made by the General Manager of National Security on the non-use of live ammunition against protesters.