Women protested in Cairo yesterday at the killing of Shaimaa Sabbagh and the alleged killing of around 25 other activists by security forces at recent rallies.

Ms Sabbagh died on Saturday as riot police were trying to break up a small, peaceful demonstration marking the anniversary of Egypt’s 2011 uprising.

Friends said she had been shot and images of her bleeding body rippled out across social media, sparking outrage and condemnation.

“The Interior Ministry are thugs” around 100 protesters chanted yesterday at the site of her death.

Some of the women held up signs with “Murderer” scrawled over the face of Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim.

“People are here at incredible risk to themselves, but it’s a way of standing against the fear they have instilled,” said activist Yasmin el-Rifae.

The interior minister has said that a probe was underway and that he would prosecute any security staff found responsible.