Last Friday, clashes erupted outside the Grand Anwar Mosque, leaving two people dead and dozens injured, said police who said they had made 114 arrests.
Ahead of this week’s Friday prayers, AFP journalists saw police in riot gear deployed outside the mosque. Members of the Republican Guard, an elite unit responsible for protecting government institutions and officials, were also present.
Worshippers were leaving the mosque calmly when some youths began to shout “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest), and shots rang out, sowing panic, AFP journalists saw. Some in the crowd threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas.It was unclear whether the police used live ammunition, plastic projectiles or blank shots.
Shots continued to be heard for about two hours before calm returned and police cordoned off roads around the mosque.
Amir, a young worshipper who was at the mosque for Friday prayers said: “We more or less knew what was going to happen after prayers.” “Hundreds of our brothers and sisters were arrested last week… people are furious our mosques are being destroyed.”
