DHAKA: Egypt has detained 39 people, including a US citizen, accused of torching a tram during a protest against the overthrow of Islamist president Mohammad Mursi.

Egypt’s judicial sources said on Saturday, reports gulfnews.com.

The accused, who were placed in 15-day preventive detention, were members of Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement, the sources said, adding that they were also accused of rioting and attacking policemen on Friday during protests in Cairo.

On Friday, the interior ministry said students linked to the Muslim Brotherhood had torched a tram carriage in Cairo’s eastern district of Heliopolis.

Sources said on Saturday that one of the detainees had a US passport, but it was unclear if he held other citizenship.

Islamist backers of Mursi have regularly staged protests against the country’s new military-installed authorities since his July 3 ouster.

On Friday, a young boy and a man were killed as supporters and opponents of Mursi clashed in several parts of Egypt, including in Cairo, officials said.

BDST: 2034 HRS, NOV 23, 2013