The Bombardment of Alexandria, in 1882, by the British Mediterranean Fleet took place on 11–13 July 1882. Admiral Sir Frederick Beauchamp Seymour was in command of a fleet of fifteen Royal Navy ironclad ships which sailed to Alexandria. This move, had the contrary effect of strengthening Urabi's Nationalist position (supported by the army and with Egyptian popular support), and it inflamed popular resentment. This exploded on 11 June in anti-European riots that killed over 2,000 Egyptians and 50 Europeans.