Security figures arrested for Port Said's massacre

Following the violent incidents which took place in Port Said Stadium at the end of a football match between Al-Mary and Al-Ahly in February,  the Egyptian Attorney General, Chancellor Abdel Magid Mahmoud, has issued a decision to arrest General Essam Samak (Port Said's security director), General Mahmoud Fathy (the deputy security director), General Bakr Hashem (assistant security director for the troops), General Abdel Aziz Fahmy (the director of central security forces for Suez Canal region), Colonel Mohammed Mohammed Saad (the head of sea security section), General Mohsen Sheta (al-Masry Club's general director).   All were arrested and held for  4 days  and charged. while at the Police Academy, where former president Hosni Mobarak's judgment sessions are being held. a further two persons are included on the detainees' list; Tawfeeq Malkan (the manager Port Said Stadium's monitor room), and General Kamal Gad Al-Rab (Al-Masry Club's assistant director for security). Egypt's prosecutor general on Thursday referred 75 people to criminal court in connection with football riots last month that left over 70 people dead. The defendants include nine members of the police and three officials from the Al-Masry football club. Two minors will be sent to a children's court, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. On February 1, clashes in the northern city of Port Said between fans of home team Al-Masry and Cairo's Al-Ahly, erupted at the final whistle of the match. Al-Masry fans invaded the pitch after their team beat the visitors 3-1, throwing rocks, bottles and fireworks at Al-Ahly supporters, causing chaos and panic as players and fans fled in all directions. The violence marked one of the deadliest incidents in football history, and came amid claims by witnesses the security forces did little to prevent the rioting. The stadium deaths sparked days of violent protests in Cairo, in which another 16 people were killed. Many believe the football riot was orchestrated either by the police or supporters of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, a reflection of distrust towards the ruling military, which took power after Mubarak's overthrow.