By John Ballard
From a great distance via Twitter on a Sunday night,
Twitter micro-journalist Adam Mowafi Tweets what happens from thirty floors up, beginning here.
The reader can furnish paragraph breaks and anything else you like.
I'm keeping the urge to post snarky comments to myself.
The image of the Egyptian army having to defend the Israeli Embassy from a group of angry protesters as the scene is witnessed and described live by an English-speaking non-activist thirty stories up is truly surreal.
Here's what I caught.
adam mowafi
Protesters are attacking the embassy, big groups running towards it. Can we not sort out egypts problems before making 50 new ones
sarrahsworld Interesting, @Gsquare86 saying csf attacking protesters, while @adammowafi a giza resident says protesters are attacking the israeli embassy
adam mowafi I can see it from all sides it was peaceful till tear gas then a shit load ran at it, I'm 30 floors up birds eye view
30 floors up, birdseye view, was peaceful till tear gas then a shit load of people ran towards the embassy
Now lots of ambulances, kobri el gama has police blocking access to small group of people trying to get to embassy
they keep retreating then running back, lots of tear gas and firing in the air
Very heavy fire just now, sound from the crowed just intensified Ambulance just stormed by protesters trying to see if anyone inside
I have popcorn there is no hanging in there required, not going to pretend that I'm in any risk hahahaha just tweeting what I see
automatic fire, not sure if live or not mostly in the air, but tear gas directed straight in the middle of protesters.
Tear gas cloud massive now at least 10 ambulances.
Firing continues Protesters near old saudi residence just ran away
There are not big numbers, there is not much support for this, but those who are there are determined but starting to disperse [2 hours ago]
1 min of continuous rapid fire, protesters made another push, now shouting louder.
Its changing by the minute
Ok crowed near saudi embassy re grouping and chanting
Popcorn getting low
Ok massive tear gas assault, one protestor through picked up a canister and threw it back. He's a winner.
But big retreat Ok a lot of the protesters have now retreated, that was a lot of tear gas and its not stopping Tear gas coming up 30 floors
Protesters have pulled back a little, they are waiting for gas to clear.
Ambulances rushing in Popcorn running dangerously low, tear gas ruining the smell of my cigar.
Protesters deciding on next move, gun fire stopped for a few mins
Protesters running back into the fray, all the ones next to saudi embassy started moving towards Israeli
One person might have been shot, body was carried off earlier with shouts of alah akbar
Protesters retreated again, amist the resuming gun fire
All traffic on corniche and other side blocked, only ambulances passing Really heavy fire just now, its automatic, some protestors resisting others fleeing. On the run closed early Ok that was a big caliber weapon which just fired, protesters chanting back
TheLogicker @adammowafi I was reading your tweets thinking you were there and wondered: is popcorn a kind of protection against tear gas like cola? ;)
Adam @TheLogicker yea but mcdonalds looks like it will be delayed, I have the faith in their delivery system though. Waiting for my coke
Ok protesters are now re grouping and they are pissed
Protestors getting really angry, shouting at the top of their lungs and banging against metal makeing as much noise as possible
The last rounds were definitely live people are injured
Small group planning on next move Protesters carrying off one injured person
A Protestors running away from near saudi residence as army trucks pulled in army trucks now pulling in
Protestors now surrounding army trucks, trucks positioning themselves to block the road
More army just came rushing in, protesters trying to shout their solidarity with the army, then army shot at them with tear gas gunfire has slowed down
I think protesters are deciding what to do.
Mcdonalds delivery definitely cancelled
More army just came in to re enforce blockade
Army looks like they are arresting people now Rocks thrown by protestors at passing police van
Protesters getting angry at army and throwing rocks at any police, very heavy fire just resumed
Protestors near saudi residence by pass blockade and now running towards Israeli embassy
Largest volley of heavy fire just now Molotov cocktail just thrown by protestors set street on fire
Fire from the army in big heavy bursts protesters are unsure what to do #Israeliembassy
Protesters banging against the gates, they are very determined. I think they want the flag
@shadenfawaz I want my mcdonalds but its not coming anymore
Protesters keep surrounding ambulances checking for injured More firing, now, it looks like a ghost town with protesters running up and down the streets.
Tear gas being used liberally More tear gas fired Army trucks now parked outside saudi residence, and 15 rounds of tear gas fired next to the traffic lights.
Looks like a small hiroshima
This is a stalemate, the protestors only re treat so far then re group. No one wants to back down
@shadenfawaz no I wish to live in a free country where I can order a big mac without fear of delivery boy being shot
Ok protesters are running away as massive tear gas explosion rises up.
There are no cars to be seen anywhere
These are not normal protesters they refuse to back down in the face of constant tear gas.
They really want that flag Big group maybe 250 or so now by the saudo embassy
Army just fired tear gas straight at protesters next to saudi embassy's faces
Rubber bullets now being shot at them, they are screaming and running
Protesters have retreated massivly after that volley and near the embassy shots are being fired again
More army trucks arrived corniche side
Protestors are now shouting beladi beladi
On corniche side some injured being put into ambulances monitored by army
Protesters currently in retreat for now but not moving to far away, army using this time to re enforce blockades further up the street
@Mayounah I am throwing coke cans.
This is bs, let's fix egypt first before causing more problems.
They are firing tear gas at anyone approaching embassy, temporarily keeping the protesters at bay bit they are shouting louder
Things are calming down 1 hour ago They are firing tear gas at any stragglers even at ones and twos
A lot of the protestors have fled, not just hard core group.
Occasional gun shots They are now arresting people.
Clearing the roads slowly Its tense with the remaining people, they are shouting but not advancing
@Mayounah I'm aiming for people wearing green with beards, its all good.
@kyrah any time, happy to regale you. However I will say again I am doing it from the comfort of my house
@rania_hafez never I'm tweeting from my house I'm no activist just walked passed my window that's about it
Gun shots resuming and people are shouting louder
Get this eerie feeling this is the clam before the storm. Not sure how long they can keep it up.
Don't we have enough problems! Peaceful is not to enter embassy by force! Irresponsibility, Ignorance, Stupidity and Selfishness! #Egypt
@esraamakled calmer but still occasional gun fire, protesters aren't leaving but being held further back
@rania_hafez damn right, honestly I just wanted to sound like morgan freeman narrating something
@IsraaAhmed calmer but not clam, they retreated but didn't leave
My thoughts are tonights events were a complete distraction from what's important, that sense of fear only gets worse and that helps no one
Tear gas fired every so often, to give u an idea it reached 30 floors up
Rapid gun fire just now after 20 mins of calm this is a stand off and the army is getting more and more irritated
The protesters keep chanting and banging against metal, its become a battle of stamina Ok protesters getting louder and re advancing, tear gas fired into the heart of them
Massive fire just now I bet you the smell of napalm in the morning is something like this
Right now there are maybe 400 protesters in view with more hanging further back
Every time I think its calmed down a small group advances and rapid fire then continues
Tear gas flying everywhere and my dad is wondering around asking where his fucking watch is.
This is brilliant I don't think the protesters have the numbers to do anything any more, the army knows this so just waits till anyone gets close then fires
To all those more interested in the saga of my dads watch it remains unfound, follow me for israeli embassy and my dads watch quest updates
Protesters are now shouting again, my dad claims the crowds are there to help him look for the watch #Israeliembassy #mydadswatch
Ambulances have started coming in again,clapping by the protesters. After checking bathroom watch remains lost #Israeliembassy #mydadswatch
Protestors have re grouped, 5 more army trucks just drove in, constant automatic fire about 100 protesters just fled into side street
Its a big game of cat and mouse, no one is leading different groups are doing different things,tear gas and firing back at full flair again
Very heavy gun fire now, against a newly re grouped mass of protestors
It clear nothing has calmed down, protesters take some time to catch their breaths then advance, security reacts with heavy gunfire
Its now 2 am and this has been going on for 5 hours
Not sure what the protesters think they will achieve, although they are resilient they don't have support or numbers
@Mo_Debeiki yea they were firing rubber bullets, no deaths but one person shot in head with rubber bullet.
Many injured Its all gone quiet, not sure what happens next, quite intrigued to find out
Still quiet, chanting in the distance 38 minutes ago Seeing how army reacts after curfew, could get messy
More army trucks pull in, could be a curfew clear up happening
@ahmedzachi popcorn finished I'm onto cheese
Here is a link to the AJ story covering this protest, with several videos and a journalistic narrative.
And here is another AJ video made available via You Tube.
No comments:
Post a Comment