(AFP File Photo)
By Tim Nanns
Security forces have arrested a man on Tuesday in the Daqahleya governorate, claiming he was the leader of a local “Islamic State” (IS) cell consisting of six members, as reported by local Egyptian media outlets.
Reports cite investigators and National Security claiming that the detainee was leading the local cell, involved in recruitment, spreading of IS ideology and organising the transfer of young men to IS branches in Syria and Libya.
Investigators claim to have found papers and publications in support of the militant organisation, as well as propaganda material. They stated that the cell helped around 16 men go to Syria or Libya during the last year.
The arrested alleged cell leader, Ahmed M., 32, was reportedly responsible for the coordination of members inside and outside of Egypt, according to the security forces. He was referred to public prosecution and detained for 15 days pending investigations.
Egypt has been dealing with a strong insurgency of IS-affiliated group “State of Sinai” in the Sinai Peninsula recently, and staged a massive crackdown on supposed Islamist militants, as well as alleged members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, since Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s takeover as president.
However, arrests of alleged IS members are rare, since the Ministry of Interior usually claims that arrested suspects were members of the Muslim Brotherhood or affiliated with it.
IS has in recent months expanded towards North Africa, with Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis rebranding itself “State of Sinai” and pledging allegiance to IS, as well as with the rapid expansion of IS militants in Libya in the last few weeks.
IS’s presence in Libya and their beheading of Egyptian Copts earlier this year had sparked retaliatory air strikes by the Egyptian Air Force.
