The Egyptian government on Sunday warned citizens against being embroiled into violence when they mark, on Tuesday, the anniversary of bloody clashes that erupted in the vicinity of the Interior Ministry headquarters in downtown Cairo two years ago.
“Some groups are plotting to infiltrate the demonstrators to spread rumors and incite violence against policemen and the army,” the cabinet said in a statement on its Facebook page.
It suggested that these “infiltrators” would also prod the demonstrators into attacking public and private properties and government buildings.
Egyptians will mark on Tuesday the second anniversary of bloody clashes that erupted between policemen and demonstrators on Mohamed Mahmoud Street, a few meters away from central Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
The clashes led to the killing of more than 40 people and the injury of scores of others.
Videos of a police sniper targeting the eyes of the demonstrators during the clashes had gone viral on the internet.
The demonstrators had initially assembled in show of solidarity of wounded victims of the January 25 revolution, which ended the 30-year autocracy of Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
The injured had camped out on Tahrir Square to demand financial support from the government before policemen used force to disperse them.
Several youth and revolutionary groups have confirmed plans to mark the anniversary on Mohamed Mahmoud Street itself.
The National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy, which backs ousted president Mohamed Morsi, announced on Saturday that it would not take part in these demonstrations lest it should be accused of fanning violence.
The coalition will commemorate the day with mass protests elsewhere in Cairo.