Ghardaia Events: Friday prayer disrupted, a citizen burned in his car

Over 35 injured, including 10 security men who are suffering dangerous wounds, is the latest toll of Ghardaia events on Thursday night to Friday.

Dozens of farms and hundreds of houses and cars were destroyed and burned, in an unprecedented unrest, due to the clashes between security and thugs, a few hours before the visit of the Maj. Gen. Abdelghani Hamel to the city.

Some masked elements burned 25 houses in the region of Boulila, and the most dangerous in the burning of a citizen “M.B” in his car, causing deadly injuries, as he was brought to the hospital’s recovery room, let alone the burning of a mechanics shop which contained 7 cars, two trucks and a wagon.

Security services tried to stop the clashes from many sides, and resorted to using helicopters of gendarmerie to monitor the situation, and picture the places of violence and vandalism, while many mosques near the events’ vicinity closed their doors, and Friday prayer was disrupted, fearing sedition, and the increase of the number of crowds, or any surprising attacks between the two parties after going out from mosques.

Clashes moved to Lechbour region where an institution that belongs to the directorate of agriculture wad burned along with a significant number of trucks that are used in eliminating mosquitoes.

A veterinary was ugly bitten, his house was burned along with three other houses, as the clashes moved to the region of Touzouz, where half the number of houses were burned, and fire destroyed 30 farms and 13 houses,     forcing dozens of families to escape and leave their land to secure places fearing attacks, even animals were not excluded from clashes, as a number of camels died due to the tear gas bombs that were used by security services.

Bouhraoua region noticed the burning and destruction of a number of warehouses which contained cars, and a mass escape of families to more secure places.

In Beladis, Ain Loupou, Korti and Ben Ghanem cities 19 places were burned including shops and houses, and all economic, trade and administrative activities are paralyzed, as Many employees and workers preferred staying in their houses fearing death.