Student dies in clashes between police and Brotherhood in Sharqiya

A 23-year-old student died on Friday in clashes between the police and members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in Sharqiya, according to local news outlets.

Dozens of Brotherhood protesters reportedly gathered around a police station and chanted against the state, before police forces dispersed the crowd and arrested one protester, according to privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm. Other protesters reportedly clashed with police in an attempt to release the arrested protester, state-owned news portal Al-Ahram added.

Yousry Galal al-Sawah reportedly happened to be passing through the site of the clashes when he was shot by a birdshot pellet. He was quickly transferred to a nearby private hospital for medical care but died from his injuries.

In recent months, Muslim Brotherhood protests have decreased considerably and rarely result in fatalities. In May, minor clashes erupted in Helwan when a number of masked demonstrators gathered in front of a mosque. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the demonstration, but when protesters retaliated, security forces began firing birdshot into the crowd. Police forces then allegedly chased after demonstrators into side streets to arrest them.

Earlier this month, Brotherhood members called for mass demonstrations to denounce the death sentence against former President Mohamed Morsi and several Brotherhood leaders.