At least 16 people are dead, over 100 are wounded, an massive numbers are arrested tonight in violence across Cairo today in the lead-up to the anniversary of the revolution against military dictator Hosni Mubarak.
Six died in bombings, 10 others in clashes with police, and a major bombing claimed by an al-Qaeda-linked group tore through the nation’s police headquarters.
A time for celebration in 2012 and 2013, the revolution anniversary takes on something of a different tone this year, following the military taking the country over again in a coup in the summer, and imposing a new constitution granting them enormous power that has rolled back what powers the Mubarak-era regime lost.
Al-Qaeda seems to be very much beside the point for the junta, who seems far more interested in cracking down on “Brotherhood elements.” The Muslim Brotherhood, now banned and officially “terrorists” in Egypt, were the ruling party in Egypt’s brief elected government.