Police attacked outside Giza hotel

A group of police officers was attacked with fireworks and birdshot outside a Giza hotel on Thursday, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry.

A group of 15 unidentified men launched the attack at policemen outside the Three Pyramids Hotel in Haram Street, causing no injuries, according to the ministry.

When the police officers responded, one of the attackers allegedly fired birdshot, according to the ministry statement, although it did not specify what type of weapon was used. The pellets caused some damage to the hotel’s front yard and a tourist bus parked nearby.

Police arrested a man who was allegedly hiding in a street behind the hotel.

General Khaled Shalaby from Giza Investigation Department told Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper that two of the attackers were riding in a microbus when they fired at the police.

Ministry spokesperson Abu Bakr Abdel Kerim told the newspaper that the attackers have been identified as belonging to the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, and conducted their attack during a protest in Haram Street.

The attack took place during the Coptic Christmas celebrations, which fall on January 7.