CAIRO: Today marks the sixth day of increased security at Cairo’s metro and train stations, following a bomb threat that was reported to the police last Wednesday.
Since then, public safety officials have increased security measures at all major transit points throughout Cairo, setting up metal detectors, patrolling stations with bomb-sniffing dogs, and searching commuters’ bags at all subway entrances.
Although there has been no official statement released by Cairo police or from the Ministry of Interior, a security source told AFP on Saturday that “there were a series of phone calls made threatening to bomb the Shubra Al-Kheima station. The source added that “security has been heightened at all stations in Cairo as a preventative measure. The police take these matters very seriously.
But despite this decisive action on the part of the police, public officials have yet to announce the reason for the heightened state of alert.
The police station at El-Sadat metro station said these were “regular security procedures, and told The Daily Star Egypt that they were not authorized to give any further comments.
When questioned by Al-Masry Al-Youm, Director of the Cairo Metro Magdi Al-Azb denied that the heightened security measures were in response to any direct threat.
Ashraf Suleiyman, the vice president of Railway Management and Planning, did confirm to Al-Masry Al-Youm that there were rumors of a bomb threat and that this was the principle reason behind the increase in security.
The station that was threatened is located in the impoverished industrial suburb of Shubra Al-Kheima in northern Cairo, where most of the ensuing investigations have been taking place. Although police have not yet made any official arrests, dozens of subway commuters have been rounded up for interrogation over the last few days.
Security procedures have been most intense at four key metro stations, deemed most likely to be under threat: El Marg Al-Gadid, Helwan, Muneib, and Shubra Al-Kheima.
At the Shubra Al-Kheima station, guards were positioned at every entrance, checking bags and asking for IDs. Security officials roamed around the station and made frequent appearances in metro cars. There was also a metal detector set up at the neighboring train station. Most other stations have not seen as many changes to normal procedures, although the majority still has officials in place checking commuters’ bags.
“They’ve been searching bags at every stop, one passenger, who gave his name as Motaz, told The Daily Star Egypt. “They even search women’s purses, which upsets many of them and has led to some fights.
Motaz, who rides the Metro at least twice a day to work, also said that the increased security has made him feel more unsafe. “The security makes me feel afraid because it indicates that there is a danger when riding on the Metro. I have been considering switching to another form of transportation.
The 20-year-old Cairo Metro is an integral part of the mass-transit system in the busy capital city, serving approximately 6 million people everyday. Additional reporting by Passant Rabie
