Looting And Burning In Egypt: Police Strike

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1948, Page 5

Looting And Burning In Egypt: Police Strike

(Rec. 10.45 a.m.) CAIRO, April 5. . Looting mobs, as a result of a police strike, terrorised Alexandria and set fire to more than 100 buildings, including four cinemas, llie death-roll in Alexandria is now 20, including seven policemen. The casualties in Cairo total 15 killed and nearly 100 injured.

The Premier, Nokrashy Pasha, flew to Alexandria to supervise military operations against the strikers and sympathiers, who, numbering several thousand, appear to have the upper hand. They are indulging in widespread looting. Huge fires are raging at several points. Street fighting between demonstrators and troops are reported from a number of areas. One hundred police officers of the Suez Canal region have decided to join the strike. Canal traffic is normal as only the officers are sti iking. ... „ , Five thousand troops, with fixed bayonets, after a day of wild looting and demonstrations, enforced the first curfew which has been imposed in

Alexandria for 25 years. The city was at a standstill after the imposition of the curfew which was announced bv the firing of rifle shots. The curfew was so sudden that after the troops told- the inhabitants through loudspeakers to “stay put,” thousands of citizens found they would have to spend the night away from their homes. The order was announced that all suspects would be fired on at sight after 7 p.m. The only subsequent movements were lorry-loads of troops and jeeps patrolling the streets. An Egyptian Cabinet communique warned police officers and other ranks that they would be dismissed! from the service if they failed to report for duty tomorrow.