Air Defence Stadium case to recommence

Adham Youssef
1 Min Read
The deaths took place before the match as fans were attempting to enter the Air Defence Stadium, before the 8 February Zamalek SC and ENPPI football match. (Photo Public Domain)

The Cairo Criminal Court will resume proceedings in the Air Defence Stadium trial on 3 September following a five-month suspension due to insufficient evidence.

Wagdy Abdel Monem, investigative judge in the case, has ordered the referral of the defendants to court on charges of rioting.

Monem also cleared police officers securing the game, stadium officials, and Al-Zamalek club from any charges.

On 8 February 2015, an Egyptian premier league football match between Al-Zamalek SC and ENPPI took a violent turn as fans were attempting to enter the Air Defence Stadium, many were killed when security forces violently dispersed fans crowding the entrance to the stadium.

However, former prosecutor general Hisham Barakat claimed that Muslim Brotherhood members provided the Ultras White Knights with money and explosive materials to incite the riots and violence that led to the killings, in addition to attacking and injuring police forces and burning a police car.

Although no security officials are facing charges, several eyewitnesses and lawyers attributed the violence to security forces, who they claim aggressively dispersed the crowd of fans. Those trapped behind the barricaded entrance to the stadium died from suffocation.

 

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