Infamous officer denies shooting protesters in eyes, to remain in detention extra 15 days

A criminal court has extended for 15 days the detention of police officer Mohamed Sobhy El-Shennawy who denies deliberately shooting protesters in the eyes

Ahram Online, Saturday 3 Dec 2011

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Mohamed Sobhy El-Shennawy as he appeared on the video

A criminal court has extended for 15 days the detention of police officer Mohamed Sobhy El-Shennawy, who is accused of deliberately shooting protesters in the eyes with a shotgun.

During questioning, El-Shennawy denied the accusation by saying he did not use, nor have, any live ammunition while facing protesters last month.

El-Shennawy gained notoriety after an online video was widely circulated showing him shooting at protesters close to Tahrir Square, as soldiers from the Central Security Forces (CSF) cheered him on.

The video was shot in Mohamed Mahmoud Street, which branches from Tahrir Square and leads towards the Ministry of Interior's headquarters. This particular street witnessed fierce clashes between protesters and police forces.

General prosecutors officially launched an investigation of El-Shennawy, also known as the “sniper of the eyes”, and ordered his arrest. Earlier, protesters in Tahrir Square sprayed graffiti attacking the CSF officer and demanding his arrest “dead or alive".

On social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, users posted his full name, address and information about him.

A host of demonstrators lost sight in their eyes during last month's confrontations from injuries caused by metal shotgun pellets. The violent clashes, which went on for five days, left more than 40 protesters dead countrywide. Several thousand more were injured.

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Mohamed Sobhy El-Shennawy | Tahrir Square | Central Security Forces

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