Brotherhood behind 'terrorist' attacks: Interior minister

[DJKeefy]

Egyptian Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim claimed Saturday that Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood was behind past major attacks targeting police personnel in the country. Ibrahim gave names of several alleged perpetrators identified and arrested by security forces following the attacks, amid increased pressure on speeding up investigations into ongoing security breaches.

"The Muslim Brotherhood, with the support and funding from the international Muslim Brotherhood organisation, has mobilised extremist terrorist elements, including ones from Al-Qaeda organisation and the Gaza Strip, to carry out a series of terrorist attacks following the 30 June revolution," Ibrahim said at a news conference Saturday afternoon.

Ibrahim went on to add that among the apprehended "terrorist cells" was an Al-Qaeda affiliated group, adding that some of its members allegedly took part in the two sit-ins supporting deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, which security forces forcibly dispersed in August.

He also announced that another 33-member "terrorist cell" was responsible for the assassination of Mohamed Mabrouk, a senior officer in the National Security apparatus who was in charge of investigating espionage charges against Morsi. Mabrouk was shot dead near his home this week.

Ibrahim also declared that the interior ministry had captured those responsible for the killing of 25 conscripts in the Sinai Peninsula 20 August, the highest rate of casualties in one incident across the uptake in militant attacks in the restive region.

Ibrahim also announced that the ministry arrested a three-member "terrorist cell" allegedly responsible for the failed attempt on his own life in September.

Back in mid-August, Ibrahim gave the green light to the raids by police to clear Islamist-led protest sites in Cairo and Giza that left hundreds dead and thousands injured.

Numerous police stations were attacked across the country in the immediate aftermath of the bloody crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins. More than 100 members of the security forces were killed in ensuing violence.

The restive Sinai Peninsula, bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, has witnessed a pronounced spike in militant attacks on police personnel and property following the crackdown on Morsi supporters.

The most recent attack targeted an army convoy carrying off-duty soldiers on the road between Al-Arish and Rafah on Wednesday, killing 11 and injuring 37.

Egypt's army previously announced it had killed around 100 militants, including foreign fighters, in operations against increased militancy in the region.

Egypt's elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, himself a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, was ousted by the military 3 July following mass protests against his rule.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/87282.aspx

[Who2]

QED..methinks, it's hardly going to be The Icelandic Penguins Revolutionary Counsel, now is it ?
Where do they find them, 'spin the bottle Humphrey…..

[Who2]

QED..methinks, it's hardly going to be The Icelandic Penguins Revolutionary Counsel, now is it ?
Where do they find them, 'spin the bottle Humphrey…..

[Hafiz]

So many culprits identified and in some cases charged and in such a short time and with such specific numbers on the unarrested. Unbelievable efficiency. No arrests with the 33 however. How do you identify 33 in the 'cell' and how, knowing their names, not have made an arrest.

This al Qaeda allegation is touted by the government and believed by the credulous. if they were in Egypt the best security service in the world would be publicly chastising the Egyptian government and extreme US tourist warnings would be in place for Egypt and particularly for Sinai. If they were there why would send conscripts to deal with them.

Most of what is going on in Sinai, and well documented in the press, concerns smuggling into Gaza and out of control and impoverished Bedouin. The former are pro-brotherhood as is Gaza making serious money out of smuggling and headed for a showdown with the anti-brotherhood and anti-Gaza Egyptian government. There has likely been a clamp down of the previously tolerated trade. Prior to this government no one suggested they were terrorists but they became that in a few weeks. The Bedouin in Sinai also seem to be just commercially minded with a nasty trade in kidnapping, illegal migrants into Israel and human trafficking. Their motives have more to do with poverty borne from government indifference to their economic needs.

Not the State Department thinks there is terrorism in Egypt and the respected International Crisis Group (2007), whilst talking about terrorism, strongly believes it to be economically based and the product of decades of government negligence with Sinai.

The Ministers exact figures in other areas contrasts with his approximation of 100 police allegedly killed following the coup. As their employer you would think he could do better that 'approximately 100'. He is similarly vague about 'around 100' militants and foreign fighters (code for al Qaeda) killed since the coup. A standard kill count would have been done producing an exact figure that is if this number were ever actually killed.

Its an entirely subjective view but my guess is that there is exaggeration in most of this media story and outright porkies about al Qaeda.

If you want attract al Qaeda then you first need to suppress normal protest, outlaw all opposition, imprison thousands of your opponments, drive the opposition underground, suppress religion and impose secularism on a devout population, fuel resentment in your enemies and push them into radical alternatives to what was previously political opposition and public protest. On this basis Egypt is heading in the 'right' direction. To hell in a hand basket.