Egypt: Government Thugs involved in Looting, Lawlessness  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The world continues to watch the fast paced developments in Egypt, now on its fifth day of demonstrations against the 30-year rule of president Hosni Mubarak.
Despite the Internet block imposed by the government, some Egyptians are back on Twitter today, telling the world what is happening around them in their own words. Others, from around the world, continue to monitor the news, updating their followers on what is happening on the ground.
News of widespread looting and lawlessness is also being reported, allegedly the work of government-backed ‘thugs.’
CNN's Ben Wedeman, who is in Cairo, tweets:
Almost all police stations ransacked, arsenals looted. Suddenly weapons in the streets wielded by thugs. Where is the army?
Brent tells us:
Looting and damage to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo shown on Egyptian television work of “the police & Mubarak thugs” per #Egypt journalist
Habib Haddad tweets what he heard on Al Jazeera:
AlJazeera: Thugs looting are part of the regime. Security Service IDs found on them when held by local residents #Jan25 http://mar.gy/9bzm
Khaled Agrama reports:
Citizens in Egypt have arrested more than 31 thugs that have turned out to be Egyptian police, according to their ID's
Mathhew Cassel, also in Egypt, shares his story:
mubarak's thugs tried to kidnap me and take my equipment and images documenting the revolution, but the people refused to let them!
Meanwhile, here's the latest buzz from the conversation on Twitter. @Sandmonkey, from Egypt, was able to access the Internet. He tweets:
rumors that govt thugs will start vandalizing electricity boxes #jan25
shmpOngO, also in Egypt, adds:
Attempts to amplify the looting to push the demonstrators to return to their homes #jan25
And Snoopynlondon notes:
Some gangs arrested in Alex found to be carrying Interior Ministry ID cards#AREN#jan25 @waelabbas http://curated.by/b/6M
Egyptian Alaa Abdel Fattah is currently in South Africa but is getting information directly from Egypt and tweeting it. Here are some of his reports. Here he writes (Ar):
Wide scale looting has been reported across Egypt – allegedly the work of thugs working for the Mubarak regime.
@hilalchouman: been told to RT: “ssrigany needs help in maadi. ex-prisoners (?) attacking residential area and she's askin that some1 notify army #jan25
@Firas_Atraqchi: Spoke with Egyptian journalists in #cairo who say they are worried by breakdown in order #jan25
@mzaher IMPORTANT RT @noornet: Military Hotline from Inside #Egypt: 19614 for reporting Murders, assaults & lootings. #Jan25
From Bahrain, Hussain continues to monitor the situation:
@hussain_info the demonstrators in Tahrir Square chanted: No to #Mubarak .. no to Sulaiman… not after our revolution #jan25 #Egypt
From the UAE, Sultan Al Qassemi is keeping a close eye on developments in Egypt, with up-to-the-minute tweets:
Al Jazeera: Libyan leader Gaddafi & Palestinian President Abbas call Mubarak to voice support #Jan25
From Qatar, Mohammed Hamad has other regional concerns. He tweets:
I am perhaps most interested in what the (possible) change of leadership in Egypt may mean for the Palestinian situation. #jan25
And last but not least Farrah3m shares this telling image:
Brave little kid
RT @snarkybat: RT @Farrah3m: Check out this brave little kid http://twitpic.com/3uj0x9 #jan25
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.