Echourok’s journalist and photographer attacked by angry crowd in Cairo

Echourok’s reporter B. Rabah and his colleague the photographer Bachir Zemri were insulted and molested by a group of Egyptian fans at the “Revolution” street, while on duty to cover the tickets’ selling for the match slated for November 14.

•  The fans were over excited because they couldn’t get tickets for the match as the demand has largely surpassed the offer. The situation has degenerated leading to the outbreak of skirmishes between the fans.
• Some of them have besieged Echourok’s special envoy and thrashed them violently, after discovering that they were Algerian journalists who were there on duty.
• Fortunately, the journalist and his colleague were “saved” by the Egyptian police officers who rapidly intervened and tried to take them way from the overzealous crowd. But the fans continued their assaults despite the police call for respecting the Algerian guests and give a nice picture of the Egyptian society.
• As we are concerned, we have to acknowledged that the Egyptian authorities didn’t spare any effort to assure the security of our correspondents, and that the “rogues” who attacked our journalists do not represent the big majority of the Egyptian people who reserved a hearty welcome to the Algerian fans all along these days.
• On the other hand, clashes broke out yesterday between the Algerian fans and the Egyptian ones nearby the Algerian embassy in “Ezamalek”, when some 260 Algerians moved directly to the Algerian embassy in a move to buy their tickets.
• After noticing that tickets were not available for sale, they decided to organize a sit-in nearby the embassy weaving the Algerian flags and chanting songs. The scene prompted the curiosity of the passers-by from the other side.
• Immediately after crowds of Egyptian fans gathered on the other side of the street facing the Algerian ones and started to sing their own songs. But a big fair play prevailed during the “confrontation” between the two clans and not a single event was registered.