By The Associated Press

Published: Monday, December 31, 2012, 7:50 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

CAIRO — Gunmen drove into Cairo's Tahrir Square before dawn on Monday and fired at an anti-government sit-in, seriously wounding a protester who had been jailed and tortured by former military rulers after he witnessed the killing of another activist. Two lawyers involved in the case suggested it was a targeted attack.

Lawyer Tamer Gomaa identified the seriously wounded activist as Muhanad Samir, 19, and said he was battling for his life with a number of pellets embedded in his skull and in his face.

Gomaa said witnesses recognized the attackers and identified them as security agents dressed in civilian clothes. Gomaa quoted witnesses as saying some of the attackers had visited the square hours before and inquired about Samir by name and about others at the sit-in.

A security official dismissed the charges as nonsense, noting that some of the witnesses said the attackers were masked.

Other witnesses said the attacker aimed at Samir, shooting him at close range, according to Gomaa. One of the attackers was collecting bullet shells, apparently to clear evidence.

Political tensions have been running high in Egypt over the past month pitting opponents of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy against his supporters, turning violent at times.

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