Student shot dead in Cairo University clashes

One student was killed Monday and two journalists were shot when clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces at Cairo University, the state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

The victim was identified by Al-Ahram as Cairo University student Mohamed Adel.

Khaled Hussein, a photographer for the privately owned newspaper Youm7, was reportedly shot in the chest with live ammunition, while Amr al-Sayed, a photographer for the privately owned news site Sada al-Balad, was injured by birdshot.

The violence reportedly erupted when security forces attempted to disperse demonstrating students who were attempting to block the roads near the university.

A statement posted on the Students Against the Coup (SAC) Facebook page accused security forces of firing live ammunition at the students, and of preventing ambulances from entering the campus to attend to the injured.

Students Against the Coup (SAC) is an umbrella group headed by pro-Muslim Brotherhood students who oppose the military-backed interim government.

In a statement, Cairo University denied that security forces had entered the campus, and claimed they only fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, reported the state-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA).

University protests have been escalating since September. Campuses have been sites of intense clashes between security forces and demonstrating students following the July 3, 2013 ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi. Many students have been injured and several have died as a result of the violence, most recently including two Al-Azhar student fatalities late last month.