2 jailed 10 years, 5 acquitted in Port Said stadium retrial

Port Said Criminal Court sentenced on Sunday two defendants to ten years in jail and acquitted five others in the retrial of Port Said stadium massacre defendants.

Some 72 people were killed and 254 others wounded when Al Ahly fans were attacked during a match in Port Said Stadium in February 2012.

In the first trial, the seven defendants were either sentenced in absentia to death or to ten years in jail.

The case includes a total of 73 defendants; the court upheld death sentences against 11 of them in June.

Ten defendants received 15-year sentences, 13 received 10-year sentences, while 15 including former head of Port Said security directorate received five-year sentences. The court acquitted 21 others.

The defendants were charged with attacking the victims immediately after the match using knives and stones, throwing some of them from the stands, and forcing them into a small exit path while firing fireworks at them with deadly intent.