Manama: Kuwait has arrested four Egyptians, including one woman, after they called for staging a protest rally in front of their embassy in the capital Kuwait City.

The four expatriates used social media to post abusive expressions and to insult Kuwait and its institutions and citizens, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The detainees posted messages on various platforms inciting the Kuwaiti community to hold a demonstration in front of the Egyptian embassy in Kuwait, the statement said.

“The suspects sought to incite hatred following the brawl between expatriates and Kuwaiti citizens that had broken out recently in a shopping centre in Hawalli,” the statement, carried by Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) said on Friday evening. “What the four did was a blatant violation of the law and a transgression of the public order that puts the lives of Kuwaiti citizens and expatriates at risk and stalls public and private interests.”

The ministry named the four Egyptians as Waleed Mahmoud Ahmad Al Suwaisi, an employee at the interior ministry, Yasser Abdul Aziz, a religion teacher at the ministry of endowments and Islamic affairs, Mustafa Mahmoud Mahfoodh, a controller in a company, and Mona Ali Shahata, an employee at a kindergarten.

The suspects have been referred to the relevant investigation authorities, and the ministry said that it would be relentless in its endeavours to prevent any action that may disrupt public order and security.

The ministry reiterated its warning of action against anyone who attempts to target Kuwait through social media.

“All people are equal before the law and justice will be carried out fairly,” the ministry said.

An Egyptian expatriate was killed and two others — an Egyptian and one Kuwaiti citizen — were seriously injured in the brawl that broke out on Saturday between Egyptian workers and two Kuwaitis in an electronics shop in Rihab Mall.

Reports said nine Kuwaitis and 15 Egyptians were implicated in the scuffle that erupted when Kuwaiti clients argued with Egyptian salesmen in an electronics shop had over the price of a PlayStation.

According to the reports, Egyptians in nearby shops joined in the fight while the Kuwaitis were helped by friends.

The Egyptian was killed when a Kuwaiti used his car to hit a group of Egyptians.

The police said that those involved in the scuffle, including the car driver, were arrested.

However, several Egyptians have been critical of their embassy in Kuwait, alleging it was slow in its reaction to the incident.

Last week, Kuwaiti authorities said they were deporting 18 Egyptians and five Syrians for their involvement in a brawl in an industrial area. The police said no Kuwaiti was involved in the scuffle.

Kuwait has been following a zero-tolerance policy towards public fights and scuffles or disruption of public order.

While Kuwaitis implicated are fined or jailed, expatriates are deported promptly without the need for a court order.