Anti-government protester hurls tear gas cann
Anti-government protester hurls tear gas cannReuters

Three masked gunmen killed the bodyguard of the Governor of Egypt’s Central Bank and stole his car on Wednesday after forcing the driver out of the vehicle.

Newly-appointed central bank governor Hesham Ramez was not in the car at the time, according to the Middle East News Agency(MENA), Egypt’s state news agency.

The car-jackers, who drove off in the vehicle, apparently missed Ramez by just a few minutes; the bodyguard and driver were on their way to pick him up when the attackers opened fire on the vehicle, MENA reported.

The country has faced unprecedented violence and the crime rate has skyrocketed since former President Hosni Mubarak was forced from power two years ago in what has become known as the “January 25 Revolution,” ignited in Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square.

Mubarak’s 30-year regime ended following 18 days of nationwide protests inspired by Tunisia’s “Jasmine Revolution,” a similar tidal wave of grassroots demonstrations toppled the 24-year government of President Zine El Abidine ben Ali on January 14, 2011.

This week anti-government protesters who oppose the Muslim Brotherhood-backed regime of President Mohamed Morsi continued clashes with riot police in front of the presidential palace in Cairo. The protesters had gathered to demand the departure of the Islamist president outside his palace on Monday, the second anniversary of the day that Mubarak announced he was stepping down from office.