Nearly half a million Egyptians took to Cairo's Tahrir Square Sunday, demanding President Mohamed Morsi leave office exactly one year after he was elected. As military helicopters flew overhead, demonstrators used laser pointers to paint them in a multi-colored shower of light:
It's unclear if the laser pointers were an act of civil disobedience or something more violent: Laser pointers can temporarily blind pilots, putting them in mortal danger. An American teenager was recently sentenced to 2.5 years in prison after aiming a laser pointer at a commercial plane for this exact reason.
#Egypt army helicopter passing over #TahrirSq painted by 100s of green laser-pointer beams. Pray those youngmen don't point them to eyes— Adel Darwish (@AdelDarwish) June 30, 2013
Here's what the streets of Cairo looked like Sunday, just outside the Presidential Palace. Multiple green laser pointers are clearly visible:
Egyptian protestors have used laser pointers before:
First time I see green laser pointer in #tahrir since clashes last wednesday. Is it from military or a protester? #egypt— Tristan Redman (@TristanAJE) February 10, 2011
Some protester is shooting a green laser pointer at riot police, and it is seriously freaking them out. They're running from it. #Egypt— Jon Jensen (@jonjensen) November 21, 2011
A military source told Reuters that as many as 14 million people took part in anti-Morsi demonstrations across Egypt this weekend, though that outlet admitted the number "seemed implausibly high."