(AFP Photo)
Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim said Monday that any attempt by terrorist elements to disrupt the celebrations would be met with extreme force within the extent of the law, according to state-owned MENA news agency.
During a speech given to the graduating class of cadets from the Police Academy on Monday, Ibrahim assured the crowd that the Ministry of Interior would be out en masse to secure gatherings despite Muslim Brotherhood plans to hold rival protests, reported state-run Al-Ahram.
Ibrahim had previously urged Egyptians to congregate in city squares on Saturday to celebrate the third anniversary of the 25 January Revolution.
Ibrahim met with high-ranking members of the Ministry of Interior on Sunday evening to formulate security measures for Saturday, according to an official statement. The plans include tightened checkpoints, additional security patrols, rapid response teams, and additional security personnel guarding important government installations.
“The interior ministry will deal with the utmost firmness and decisiveness” against any attempts to attack vital installations or security forces, and security personnel will be equipped with “heavy weapons,” read the statement.
Political groups have begun to gear up for 25 January demonstrations. The Free Egyptians Party, supporters of Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi and the military-backed interim government, called on its supporters to take to the streets and squares on Saturday in a show of unity with the government.
“I call on Egyptians to go out on [Saturday] to confirm our peaceful struggle against the evil forces that seek to destroy the state and disrupt the implementation of the roadmap after the overwhelming approval of the constitution, and the move towards presidential and parliamentary elections,” said Free Egyptians Party head Ahmed Said in a statement.
On Monday, Ibrahim also met with leaders from the Tamarod campaign to discuss the role of the youth in the implementation of the roadmap.
“[Ibrahim] expressed his happiness with this positive interaction with youth movements and the revolutionary forces, and stressed the importance of the role of youth in the advancement of society,” read a statement from the Ministry of Interior.
During the meeting, Tamarod praised the police forces for the “permanent sacrifices” made to secure the 25 January and 30 June Revolutions.
