According to eye witness account, the Shiites effectively took over and occupied the National Assembly complex to commemorate the 68th birthday anniversary of their spiritual leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since 2015.
The accounts said that the Shiites were initially peaceful as they chanted anti-government songs from outside the gate, but that situation turned differently when some of them suddenly descended on the gate, shaking it vigorously until they succeeded in forcing it open, almost causing a stampede because of the crowd.
It took the appeal of leaders of the movement to stop the crowd from advancing into chambers of the assembly proper.
Despite provocation by the protesters, the Police remained calm and peaceful, and only pleaded with them not to go into the chamber.
Source: Economist.