More than 250 people have reportedly been killed as Egyptian security forces cleared two protest camps loyal to deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
Sky's Sam Kiley, reporting from outside the Rabaa al Adawiya camp in Cairo, said it was "under very heavy gunfire" and was a "massive military assault on largely unarmed civilians in very large numbers".
He added: "There are machine gun rounds and snipers on the roof that are preventing people from getting any closer to the field hospital.
"There is a very large fire that I understand is burning tents and other material that was being used by the group."
He said it was a scene of "extreme chaos and bloodshed" and "many hundreds of troops and interior ministry police and special forces are involved."
Police, backed by armoured vehicles and bulldozers, also fired tear gas at the demonstrators who are demanding Mr Morsi be reinstated as the country's leader.
The interior ministry, which is in charge of police, warned its security forces would deal firmly with protesters acting "irresponsibly" and said it would guarantee safe passage to those who want to leave the two sites.
The larger is the Rabaa al Adawiya camp described as a 'mini town', while the other is in Al Nahda Square outside the main campus of Cairo University in Giza.
The interior ministry said security forces have "total control" over the smaller camp and police have managed to remove most of the tents in the square.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the sprawling Rabaa camp, Murad Ahmed said: "It is nasty inside, they are destroying our tents. We can't breath inside and many people are in hospital."
A journalist at the scene said he could hear the screams of women as a cloud of white smoke hung over the site in the eastern suburb of Nasr City.
The Muslim Brotherhood that backs ousted Islamist president Mr Morsi claimed over 250 people had been killed and 5,000 hurt in the crackdown, which is almost certain to deepen political turmoil in Egypt.
The raids came after international efforts failed to mediate an end to a six-week political standoff between Morsi's supporters and the army-backed government which took power after he was ousted on July 3.
The state news agency claimed two policemen had been killed by gunfire during the operation.
Regional television networks showed images of collapsed tents and burning tyres at both sites, with ambulances on standby at the scene.
They also showed protesters being arrested and led away by troops.
A television feed by a pro-Morsi TV station showed thousands of protesters gathered at the centre of the Nasr City site, with many covering their faces to fend off the tear gas.
It said most of the protesters at the other camp fled to the nearby Orman botanical gardens and inside the sprawling university campus.
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