Mahalla al-Kubra, Egypt - Tension prevailed in Egypt's textile town of Mahalla al-Kubra after two days of clashes between protestors and police in which a boy died of wounds and at least 200 people were injured, security sources said Tuesday. Some 180 people have been arrested after clashes broke out for the second straight day on Monday, leaving some 60 people injured, the sources said.
A 15-year-old boy, Ahmed Hamada, died of wounds suffered when he was shot by police during the clashes, according to the sources.
Families of the detainees, many of whom are textile workers, have gathered outside the main police centre in the town, 100 kilometres north of Cairo, to demand the release of their relatives, witnesses said.
The town's open air Tuesday market was not held as vendors feared another outbreak of violence and looting, local sources said.
Acts of looting and vandalism were committed during the riots.
Two school, banks, cars and shops were burnt, police said.
The Egyptian Ministry of the Interior accused thugs of inciting people to violence in Mahalla.
"Citizens from all walks of life abstained from responding to calls to strike and protests. Some professional thugs and riot instigators intentionally incited to violence and called to protests," a statement issued by the ministry said.
But local politicians and workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur
