ANSD : Egypt arrests 54 for ‘chaos plot’ on anniversary of 2011 uprising

SUN 24 - 11 - 2024

Date: Jan 30, 2019
Source: The Daily Star

Egypt arrests 54 for ‘chaos plot’ on anniversary of 2011 uprising

_Reuters
CAIRO: Egyptian security forces have arrested 54 people, including suspected members of the Muslim Brotherhood, for planning to hold protests and commit violence on the anniversary of the 2011 uprising, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement the group was directed by a Muslim Brotherhood leader based in Turkey and money and sabotage equipment were found in its possession.

“Information has become available ... that escaped leaders of the [Muslim Brotherhood] were implementing a plot to create a state of chaos in the country during the months of January and February, to coincide with the anniversary of the Jan. 25 revolution,” it said.

The 2011 popular uprising overthrew long-serving autocrat Hosni Mubarak. A year later, the Muslim Brotherhood came to power in Egypt’s first modern free election, but in 2013 the army removed the Brotherhood. The movement has since been banned and its leaders arrested.

The Egyptian authorities link the Brotherhood to an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai peninsula and have repeatedly blamed it for attacks. The Brotherhood denies any connection to militants and says its political aims are peaceful.

Tuesday’s statement identified the Brotherhood figure behind the planned attacks as Yasser al-Omda and said he had set up an organization called Allahuma Thawra.

Members of the group were planning to “cut roads, disrupt traffic, and try to spread chaos and terrify citizens,” it added.

The statement did not identify any of those arrested, but said legal measures were being taken against them in coordination with the state security prosecutor.

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