Egypt: World Horrified as Full Scale Attack Launched on Protesters  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
The world has been watching in horror, the fast-paced attacks against protesters across Egypt, where reports continue to pour in about government-paid thugs wreaking havoc and terrorising protesters.
Egyptian protesters on the ground are reporting that the thugs, who came into Tahrir Square, in Cairo, came under the pre-text of staging pro-Mubarak demonstrations. Soon, they started clashing with protesters, throw stones at them and attacking them with knives. The thuggery took a totally different level, when the thugs started throwing tear gas at the protesters, and are now pelting them with Molotov cocktails – some too close to the Egyptian National Museum, which houses the country's history.
Citizens from around the world are following the events closely:
@SoulSistaAfrica: Uh-oh. Confirmed fatalities in Tahrir Square..hundreds more injured. And Anderson Cooper just got beat up. #Jan25 #Egypt
@Salma_ts2al: My heart literally aches. I don't think I can die out of sorrow,but wish I were an uneducated ignorant girl who does not have dreams #Jan25
@dadatrew: Firebombs being thrown from top of buildings. #Jan25
@KatieAnn_O: CNN: People trapped in #Tahrir Square. Thugs throwing Molotov cocktails on them. UN and US WHY ARE YOU SILENT?! #Jan25 #Cairo #Egypt
@CNNDan: Watching incredible pictures on our air now of Molotov Cocktails flying through air, looking like giant, violent fireflies. #Egypt #Jan25
Others are asking what the role of the army is, and why it allowed the thugs in without checking them for weapons:
@ntorki: #Jan25 why is the army so negative toward violence? Molotov bombs beside the museum, what r u waiting for? #Egypt
@m_Beckham: The army is now a partner in killing the protesters #Egypt #jan25 #25jan
@marwaalsaleh: Army shoot inside #Tahrir , #Egypt #Jan25 #Jan28
And for others, the US’ is getting some flak for its diplomatic overtures:
@shmpOngO:
Meanwhile, tweeps continue to stress that the thugs are government-paid:
@Raafatology: RT @waelabbas: thugs were paid 500 Egyptian pounds per person from the national party treasury & this info from reliable source #Egypt
But the mood continues to remain upbeat:
@tarekshalaby: This is OUR revolution, and no one can take it away from us. #jan25
More news of more thuggery continues to spread, in different areas:
@sara2_ab: #jan25 thugs are said to roam giza, warn your friends on the streets #egypt #mubarak
Meanwhile, The Egyptian Museum is in danger, with the fires close to it. And there is a cry to save the National Museum. Maida Ibrahim appeals[ar]:
Video:
3arabawy links to Al Jazeera's coverage of the clashes here, when they first started.
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.