![SPAP activist Sabbagh receives help after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo Socialist Popular Alliance Party activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh receives help after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo, Jan. 4, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/shaimaa-al-sabbagh-4.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
A protester was shot and killed by police in Cairo on Saturday when officers opened fire on a socialist rally near the capital’s Tahrir Square, according to local media reports.
Shaimaa al-Sabbagh, a leading member of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, suffered shotgun pellet injuries, apparently at close range, while standing outside the Air France-KLM office close to Tahrir Square. She was rushed to hospital but died en route.
In a statement, her party said that their only intention was to place flowers at the iconic public space on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 25 revolution. Other demonstrators were also reportedly injured in the melee.
Government officials initially denied that the police had fired any shots, further angering the protesters.
![SPAP activist Sabbagh collapses after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo Socialist Popular Alliance Party activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh collapses after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo, Jan. 24, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/shaimaa-al-sabbagh-1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/graphic-content-slide.png?w=2400&quality=75)
![SPAP activist Sabbagh receives help after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo Socialist Popular Alliance Party activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh receives help after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo, Jan. 24, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/shaimaa-al-sabbagh-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![SPAP activist Sabbagh receives help after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo Socialist Popular Alliance Party activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh receives help after she was shot during a protest by the party in Cairo, Jan. 4, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/shaimaa-al-sabbagh-4.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![EGYPT-UNREST-DEMO-CLASHES Shaima al-Sabbagh is carried away after being shot in Cairo, Jan. 24, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/egypt-woman-activist-shot-killed.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![EGYPT-UNREST-DEMO-CLASHES Socialist Alliance Party activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh after being shot in Cairo, Jan. 24, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/egypt-acitivist-shot-killed.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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