At least eight people have been arrested in the northern Egyptian governorate Al-Beheira and up to 22 in Cairo as riot police took to the streets to prevent what the Ministry of Interior called a ‘Muslim Brotherhood plot’.

According to state media Al-Ahram, a number of protests had taken to the streets in Al-Beheira before being confronted by riot police who fired tear gas before arresting eight individuals for illegally demonstrating.

Meanwhile, according to Al-Masry Al-Youm 22 people were arrested in Cairo and Giza. However, it is unclear whether these individuals were directly involved in any protests.

Elsewhere in Egypt, protests called for largely failed to gain momentum. Tens of demonstrators spilled on the streets of Alexandria and Sharqiya. However, reports indicate these demonstrations failed to pick up pace.

Counter protests in support of the Egyptian President broke out in Alexandria, with dozens chanting against anti-government protesters.

The protests had been organized by a Facebook group by the name ‘Movement of the Poor’. The group called on Egyptians to protest on 11 November against austerity measures taken by the Egyptian government. The group had also called for the return of former Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammed Morsi.

Despite initially failing to gain attention, the protest event spread on social media in the past week.

However, all Egyptian political groups, save for the Muslim Brotherhood, distanced themselves and announced they would not be joining the protests.

Prices on goods in Egypt have recently been on the rise as a result of a lack in Egypt’s foreign currency reserves.

---

Subscribe to our newsletter

---