(AFP Photo)
Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim revealed on Saturday the identities of the perpetrators behind recent multiple attacks, including the assassination attempt that targeted him and the assassination of high-ranking homeland security officer Mohamed Mabrouk.
In a press conference Ibrahim announced that a “jihadist cell” led by Mohamed Fathi Al-Shazli is responsible for Mabrouk’s assassination.
The minister explained that police Captain Ahmed Samir Al-Kabir was killed in clashes during the successful attempt to capture Al-Shazli in Qalyubiya. Al-Shazli was accompanied by Ahmed Farrag, who was described by Ibrahim as “a very dangerous jihadi element”. Farrag was arrested and in his possession there were written plans to bomb churches in Northern Cairo, Giza Security Directorate and assassinate multiple Homeland Security officers. Ibrahim declared that “extra-procedures” are being taken to secure homeland security personnel.
Ibrahim confirmed that Mabrouk was a witness in the Wadi Al-Natrun case, in which former President Mohamed Morsi is accused of spying with Gaza Strip governing movement Hamas. However, the minister said that the assassinated officer is a part of a group that works in that case.
The minister also announced information about the assassination attempt that targeted him. “We identified the perpetrators 24 hours after the attempt” Ibrahim remarked.
Three “jihadists” participated in the unsuccessful assassination attempt, including former military officer Waleed Badr who appeared in the video in which Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis announced responsibility for the assassination attempt. Badr used a car bomb to target Ibrahim and died during the attempt. The car was stolen from the Cairo district of Heliopolis.
According to Ibrahim, the two other perpetrators included a Nasr City resident who was in the Rabaa Al-Adaweya sit-in. The two perpetrators were arrested on 6 September, one day after the assassination attempt.
Ibrahim declared that five of the “terrorist leaders” affiliated with Al-Qaeda were arrested during the dispersal of Rabaa Al-Adaweya and Al-Nahda sit-ins, including Nabil Al-Maghraby who is a leader in Al-Jihad organisation and is affiliated with the jihadist cell known as Nasr City cell.
Ibrahim accused Al-Maghraby of forming the cell responsible for Ramses Square violence on 16 August. 39 people from this cell were arrested and four were killed. In the possession of the arrested, there were assassination plans for media personalities and policemen, Ibrahim affirmed. He also announced that this cell has affiliations with Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis and is provided with money and arms by the Libyan organisation Ansar Al-Sharia. The mediator between the cell and Ansar Al-Sharia was arrested in Matrouh according to Ibrahim.
Ibrahim also said that “terrorist groups” formulated a plan to “set Egypt on fire on 6 October” but these plans were aborted by the Ministry of Interior.
(DNE File Photo)
The minister also announced that Kerdasa-resident Ahmed “Wica” Abdel Salam is responsible for killing Police officer Nabil Farag during the crackdown on the Giza village on 19 Septeber. Mika used a stolen gun from the Kerdasa Police Station and is still at large.
“Adel Habara is responsible for the killing of 25 Central Security Forces (CSF) [on 19 August] conscripts in Rafah and the kidnapping of seven others” Ibrahim said. He also stated that Habara has affiliations with Fatah Al-Islam organisation in Gaza strip. Habara is currently under arrest and is being charged with perpetrating the second Rafah massacre where 25 CSF conscripts were killed.
Ibrahim declared that the perpetrators of 11 attacks in Ismailia were arrested. These attacks include killing Ahmed Farouk Mandour, an army colonel on 5 November and bombing the Military Intelligence headquarters on 19 October. The arrested are also accused of attacking a police check point in Al-Nozha district in Cairo using the same stolen car that was used in Ibrahim’s assassination.
(AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI)
“Some elements are still at large, including two in the assassination attempt that targeted [myself] and the perpetrators of Al-Warraq church shooting [on 21 October]” The minister stated.
Ibrahim proclaimed that “terrorist groups” are being funded by the International Organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood. He also claimed that the participants in the Anti-coup alliance protests receive money for their participation.
“Any protest that will go beyond the boundaries of peacefulness or block roads will be met with firmness whatever the losses” Ibrahim threatened.
Ibrahim’s stint at the head of the Ministry of Interior started on 6 January 2013 when he was appointed in Hesham Qandil’s cabinet and stayed in his position even after the ousting of Brotherhood’s Morsi. After Morsi’s ousting, Ibrahim pulled off a violent crackdown on Islamists in general and especially the Muslim Brotherhood.
