I just spoke with two journalists from the Wafd Party’s organ Al-Wafd who said that ousted party leader Nomoan Gomaa and armed “thugs” have occupied the newspaper’s offices in Doqqi and that they have been shooting at journalists trying to get into the building to do their work. Fifteen journalists have reportedly been injured, some seriously, with shots to the stomach and chest. Three are in surgery. Among those reportedly injured (and please bear in mind that this is breaking news and I haven’t been able to verify the spelling of these names) were Sayed Qassas, Abd al-Aziz Mahasi, and Mohammed Ali. State Security is apparently standing by and doing nothing, presumably because they see Gomaa as just implementing a court order saying that he should have access to the building and because it would look bad for Security to raid the Wafd Party headquarters. When asked about the court order, one Wafd journalist said the court order and Gomaa’s access to the building are beside the point: “We just want to be able to do our job,” she said, “to exercise our right to free speech.” Certainly, if shots are being fired it would seem to be Security’s responsibility to arrest the shooters, regardless of who hired them.
I’m on my way over there now to see for myself. I hope to have more, and better, information soon.

Technorati Tags: Al-Wafd, Wafd, Gomaa, Nomoan Gomaa, Egypt