The Egyptian security forces' systematic use of force to respond to demonstrations in Rabaa that led to the deaths of at least 817 civilians last year was premeditated, according to a report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The report - conducted through on-site investigations and based on over 200 eyewitness accounts - called the killings "serious violations of international human rights law" and claimed the killings were carried out systematically as part of a plan to "attack unnamed persons on political grounds."

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Local authorities indiscriminately opened fire on the protesters, while snipers from nearby buildings and gunmen in helicopters shot civilians in Rabaa Square.

HRW reported that the dispersals were carried out in a way that prevented protesters from leaving the camps through the designated safe exits.

Hussein Abdel Aal, 61, told The Guardian of his horror when his son Ramzy - who was standing beside him at the edge of the camp - was shot in the forehead.

"He did not have any kind of weapons. From the stick to the gun, he had nothing," he said.

While the government declared its plan to forcibly break up the sit-ins, HRW concluded the warnings insufficient. The warnings did not specify when the dispersal would happen. Most of the protesters did not hear the warnings played on the morning of the dispersal and failed to provide them with enough time to leave the site before the guards had used force.

Evidence suggested high-ranking government officials were aware that a forcible dispersal of the demonstrations would result in widespread killing of protesters. Nevertheless, Cairo's security forces maintain they did not do wrong, while the government has yet to identify those accountable for the massacre, the report said.

HRW found that weeks after the massacre, Prime Minister al-Beblawy told media casualties from the Aug. 14 dispersals were "close to 1,000," adding that the death toll was less than what was expected.

The government has planned and anticipated a violent dispersal expected to result in widespread killings without any serious effort to put in place safeguards such as safe exits and warnings for protesters, the HRW concluded.

On Thursday last year, pro-Morsi supporters organized a demonstration calling for the reinstatement of overthrown President Mohamed Morsi. Egyptian forces raided camps in Rabaa and al-Nahda Square on Aug. 14 killing hundreds of civilians and considered by the HRW as the most "serious incident of mass unlawful killings" in recent history.

According to Cairo's Healthy Ministry, 595 civilians and 43 police were killed and with nearly 4,000 injured that day.

TagsRabaa massacre, Egypt, Human Rights Watch, HRW, human rights violation, crime against humanity, Rabaa Square, al-Nahda Square, Mohamed Morsi, political killings