Six Muslim Brotherhood supporters killed in clashes in Cairo

CAIRO - Reuters

People shop at Al Ataba, a popular market in downtown Cairo, Egypt July 15, 2015. Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr festival at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Reuters Photo

Six supporters of Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood were killed in clashes with police in Cairo on July 17, security sources said. The violence in different locations took place as Egyptians marked the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. 

State news agency MENA quoted an Interior Ministry source as saying security forces intervened and arrested 15 armed Brotherhood members. Twenty Brotherhood members were arrested in Egypt’s second city Alexandria, said MENA. 

A Health ministry official confirmed the deaths. 

The Egyptian army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. 

Security forces then launched a tough crackdown on Brotherhood supporters, killing hundreds in street protests and arresting thousands of others. Top Brotherhood leaders were sentenced to death in mass trials. 

The measures, widely criticized by human rights groups, weakened Egypt’s oldest Islamist movement, which had said it would return to power through street protests. Instead, demonstrations have largely faded.