Update: 3 journalists killed, others injured and arrested

Three reporters were killed on Wednesday during clashes between supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi and police forces, after the violent dispersal of the Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda sit-ins.

Those killed were Habiba Abdel Aziz who worked for UAE's Gulf News, and Sky News reporter Michael Deane, 59, member of the Journalists Syndicate’s executive board Abeer Aal-Saady told Mada Masr.

Aal-Saady confirmed later in the day the death of a third journalist, Ahmed Abdel Gawad, reporter for Al Akhbar, who was also killed while covering the clashes in Rabea.

The two reporters were shot in the head with live ammunition in the violence at Rabea al-Adaweya.

Aal-Saady also said that three photographers were injured during the clashes. Asmaa Walid from Reuters was allegedly shot by police in Rabea with live ammunition in her leg and is currently undergoing surgery. Ahmed al-Naggar of privately-owned Al-Masry Al-Youm was shot by the Brotherhood with live ammunition in the arm in clashes at Mostafa Mahmoud where protesters who were part of the Nahda sit-in have been gathering, joined by others. Finally, Al-Watan photographer Tarek Abbas was shot with a pellet under his eye.

Al-Masry Al-Youm also announced through its Twitter feed that two of its photographers, Ahmed al-Naggar and Alaa al-Kamhawy, were injured by live ammunition while covering the dispersion of the sit-ins.

Aal-Saady also confirmed that Al-Watan reporter Amr Diab was arrested by security and remains detained in the Cairo Security Directorate as the syndicate works on securing his release.

She also added that reporter Reda Abdel Naby who works for Vitto newspaper is missing.

Photographer Ahmed Haymen who works on documenting violations against reporters told Mada Masr that four photographers had their memory cards confiscated, in most cases by the police.

“The only case of a violation at the Nahda sit-in was against Masrawy reporter Mostafa al-Shemy who was badly beaten by police forces and had his camera confiscated," Haymen said.

Freelance photographer Hazem Barakat told Mada Masr he was beaten by Brotherhood supporters while they were blocking Haram Road, and his camera was briefly confiscated.

“Someone whom I believe was a thug threatened them with a knife, that's why they gave me my camera back," he added.

Al-Masry Al-Youm photographer Omar Saher also told Mada Masr that two persons wearing civilian clothes confiscated his camera while he was filming police violence in Rabea.

“They slapped me on the face. I really don't know if they belonged to the Brotherhood or to the police. Two Brotherhood members saved me from them and promised to recover my camera, Saher recounted, adding, “It is very hard to know who has committed all these violations against reporters and photographers. This sit-in was full of security agents, I can tell.”