Nine individuals identified by the Ministry of Interior as armed Muslim Brotherhood members were killed by Egyptian security forces Friday.
However, conflicting reports in national and international media have given different accounts of the case.
Sources at the interior ministry said that a raid on a Giza home led to the killings of nine members of the outlawed group, as reported by Reuters and leading daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.
However, state news agency MENA appeared to report on the same case by announcing the arrest of five leaders, while state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported that nine were arrested, with both reports accusing the individuals of connection to terrorist activities.
A Ministry of Interior official was not reachable and no official statement has been made at the time of publishing.
“The Brotherhood members clashed with security forces,” an official told Reuters, adding that they were meeting to plan what he said were “terrorist attacks”.
In similar circumstances in July, 13 leading members of the banned group were killed in a police raid on a 6th of October City apartment. While the Ministry of Interior accused the men of preparing militant attacks, family members said that the men were engaged in charity work, and were executed.
Following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the Muslim Brotherhood has faced a widespread crackdown on their activities. Hundreds of affiliated NGOS have been closed down, with many members arrested. Further, the group was branded a terrorist organisation by court order. Their members accuse the government of political persecution.
