RIOTS AND LOOTING

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1948, Page 5

RIOTS AND LOOTING

CN 7. P A

— Rp.n.ter.

Mob Disorders Follow Egyptian Police Strike

Covvri'oht)

Received Tuesday, 10.45 a.m. CAIRO, April 5. Looting mobs as a result of the police strike terrorised Alexandra, and set fire to more than 100 buildings, including four cinemas. The deathroll in Alexandria i. now 20, including seven policemen The casuaHies in Cairo total 15 irilled and nearly 100 injured. Thousands of Egyptian police in Cairo, Alexandria and the provinces are now on strike for increased pay. Police officers first threatened to rtrike in October 1947, but lastminute intervention by King Farouk saved the situation. In Alexandria the striking police refused to hand in rifles and replied to the troops' fire. DemonArators in the Alexandria harbour rrea burned the main port police post to the ground. The demon•trators are reported to have seized "n avmv tank after overpowering the driver. Troops opened fire, iniuring a number of people when a crowd stoned . the police post at Alexandria. All shops in Alexandria are closed. Hoodlums in Alexandria smashed shops and set tramcars ablaze while a mob raided a train, forced out the passengers and looted the •furnishings and baggage. The demonstrators also burned dnwn r:he Customs warehouse in addition to the police station. The Prime Minister, Nokrashy Pasha, flew to Alexandria to s"no--vise military operations against the strikers and symnathisers wno -umbering severai thousand, ppear to have the upper hand. "hev are indulging in widespread looting. Huge fires are raging at severai points and street fighting between ihe demonstrators and troops is eported irom a number of areas. One hundred police" officers of thr Suez Canal region have decided to join the -strike. Canal traffic inormal as only the officers are striking.