Rioters trash the Semiramis Hotel in Cairo

"Violence has been ongoing in cities across Egypt since Friday, starting with clashes that broke out on the 25 January anniversary, when mass protests took place denouncing the Muslim Brotherhood's monopolization of power. Nine people were killed, mainly in Suez, where the army has been deployed. The 6 October Bridge was blocked off intermittently Saturday evening and the fighting also reached the Garden City Corniche near the Qasr al-Nil entrance and the Semiramis Hotel, all the way down to Simon Bolivar Square. Tear gas was heavy in the whole area. A security source said that the management of the three nearby hotels -- the Semiramis and Shepherd hotels on one side, as well as the Hilton Ramsis overlooking Abdel Moneim Riad Square -- were asked to close the gates and not allow anyone to enter or exit. A fire that broke out late Saturday at the Lycee School on Sheikh Rihan Street had been contained, the same street where clashes had been taking place throughout the day. A security source told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the fire ravaged three classrooms and the school's basement. There were also reports of a fire at the Misr Insurance office in Talaat Harb Square. "  Al Ahram on-line

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The Semiramis Intercontinental is one of Cairo's finest hotels.  I have stayed there many times although I prefer the Marriott out on the Gezira.

The Semiramis was the scene many years ago of a massacre of Swedish tourists by Islamists.  They were killed like sheep as they stood in line at the Reception Desk in the ground floor lobby.  The hotel put in metal detectors after that.

The new Shepherd's and Ramses Hilton are also five star hotels.

These buildings are all in central Cairo, near Tahrir Square.  The Semiramis is two or three blocks from the US Embassy.

These looters do not appear to have been Islamists.  They wanted to burglarize the hotel.

The US is the sponsor of Egypt's "democracy."

Enjoy!    pl 

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/clashes-around-downtown-cairo-spill-early-hours-sunday

Comments

[r whitman]

Any contact with Yusuf Al-Misry yet??

[turcopolier]

r whitman

No. He may have fled Egypt as in "A Tale of Two Cities." pl

[Alba Etie]

" it was the best of times & the worst of times.."

[Medicine Man]

I hope Yusuf has fled rather than being imprisoned or killed.

[turcopolier]

MM

He has been in Europe for medical treatment but is returning to Misr. pl

[Abu Sinan]

Sir,

The violence at the original football match was between the supporters of the local team in Port Said and supporters of the al Ahly team. Ah Ahly supporters at the match were attacked by police and by opposition soccer fans.

Politics is at the base of this because ah Ahly supporters were at the forfront of protecting the demontrators at Tahrir Square. The opposition fans and the police were supporters of Mubarak and his regime.

The recent trial gave out the death penalty to multiple supporters of the old regime who were involved in the violence at the soccer match targeting al Ahly "Ultras". Ultras being a term used in international soccer circles for supporters of a team that are rather fanatical, but one step down from a full on soccer holigan. Al Ahly has the biggest crew of Ultras in Africa.

The violence that broke out after the death penalties were given out seems to be coming from what was the pro Mubarak camp and seem to be aimed at making the country under the MB ungovernable.

What is an interesting twist is that although al Ahly Ultras played a large role in protecting demontrators in Tahrir Square all of those months, they do not generally support the MB, rather tend to come from a more liberal, educated and monied section of Egyptian society.

[Medicine Man]

I'm glad to hear he is alright. Wish him the best for me if you have the chance.

[Fred]

Very interesting. So amongst everything else Moris/the MB get to play two opponents off one another?

[Abu Sinan]

Indeed Fred, there is a lot going on here. I believe the average Egyptian has a good heart, but they are being sold a bill of goods by the MB. I think the Middle East is just going to have to see that political Islam fails. Question is, when they realise that it has, will they be able to take back power from them?

[Mark Kolmar]

This comment is rather late. If it were up to me, I would ask whether the U.S. shouldn't keep fully open channels to the Egyptian military, and snub the executive just enough to make the idea clear.