Egypt’s forces battle security threats during parliament elections

 Security was, without doubt, one of the most important concerns and fears of the current government while organising the parliament elections. It is an acceptable concern within a volatile security situation that witnesses numerous terrorist attacks during the most recent months of 2015.

The peak of those operations occurred on the streets of the Heliopolis district with the assassination of Attorney General Hisham Barakat. The operations included many targets, some were successful and some were thwarted by security forces that have been locked in a fierce war to seize control of the security situation. One of the security forces’ goals was to reach the parliamentary elections with a reassuring security scene that enables the regime to fulfil its third promise.

Terrorist organisations did not hide their intentions to halt this political track, working day and night to move from their safe houses to reach impact points through two routes. The first route included a group of terrorist cells that moved from Sinai to settle in Cairo, in places that can be used as safe havens to make it easier in carrying out terrorist operations.

This was displayed when they targeted the National Security building in Shubra Al-Kheimah. Security forces exerted much effort to capture the expatriate cells before they settled in the Delta, which would have caused a bigger problem. This is why ‘Operation Martyr’s Right’ by military forces was necessary at this early stage. Without real pressure and prosecution of the “State of Sinai” militant organisation, the scene would have been so much different, and this current stage of stability might have been delayed.

Thus, we should consider the first stage of the operation successful, as it led to securing the elections. Of course, the operation had another role in the global war on terrorism, which is why the second stage arrived the same day of elections.

During the period prior to the first phase of elections, National Security forces committed to the provinces to observe and prosecute the so-called Muslim Brotherhood cells. Those cells were allegedly concerned with producing security chaos to adversely affect the elections.

Many cells fell in the hands of security forces in different provinces. Four warehouses were found in Giza, which were used to store explosive materials. Three of those warehouses were in the Warraq area of ​​Giza and the fourth was found in Osim. Those warehouses were the biggest discovery, especially considering the huge amount of explosives seized, to be used during elections. The list of similar attempted operations is long.

Similar spots were found in different provinces, including Fayoum and Upper Egypt, as well as Giza and 6^th of October City, although fewer in number of items seized or individuals arrested. However, their threat was being geographically spread. Finding those places and arresting their members is a prominent success of the Ministry of Interior, as those governorates launched the elections in the best security circumstances and in record time.

This was for the first phase, but now we stand a few minutes away from the second stage, which I believe will be the most dangerous. The second phase includes three places that are the points of equation. Those three spots, sorted by importance, are Cairo, North Sinai, and the Delta. Their importance lies in the threats, and the high number of residents. They will also be monitored by international and local media betting on terrorist groups in order to reap negative messages.

Delta provinces and Cairo are similar on many points, especially as many provinces are located near Cairo, such as Qaliubiya, Sharqeya, Daqahleya, and Menufiya. Rural-urban complexes and the network of roads, combined with the vast areas, put a huge burden on security forces. Their mission will be tough and will require a high degree of control, to deprive these terrorists of access.

And then, there is Sinai. Operation Martyr’s Right has, without a doubt, given a strong blow to the “State of Sinai” organisation in the triangle of horror of Al-Arish, Sheikh Zuwaid, and Rafah. The desert in those three cities was a favourite to the organisation in the past two years.

The organisation, however, was able to access Al-Arish, and its elements are hiding among the city’s population. It planted more than one trained cell in the city, and one cell carried out two terrorist operations within 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. The two operations were carried out in the organisation’s favourite manner; by planting a large and complex landmine on the road where army and police transit. Both operations have successfully reaped many victims, officers and enlisted personnel of the police, by remote detonation bombs.

The organisation exploits the population of the city and utilises the good training of its elements. However, without this population that provides all types of logistical support including, hosting, transmitting bombs, execution, and helping elements escape and hide, the organisation would have failed to move around Sinai. This point was most threatening to security equations while preparing for elections. Those very spots where the organisation carries out its terrorism acts, will become polling stations where voters will go to vote.

Another incident occurred, striking a blow to security forces, especially in downtown Al-Arish.

A Nour Party leader, Mustafa Abdel Rahman, was assassinated by the hands of masked men riding a motorcycle, who showered him with bullets as he stopped his car in front of his home at 2:40pm before heading to the mosque for prayers.

The leaders of Al-Nour Party were extremely shocked by this incident, as the deceased was a candidate for the party in Al-Arish, as he was an old resident of the city. This timing is of extreme importance for the party which enjoys wide popularity and many supporters who are of great consequence.

That is how the “Islamic State” organisation aimed its bullets towards the heart of the elections procedures. The terrorist organisation chose the shortest way to send their message by aiming their rabid fire towards the candidate of the party who clearly raised the religious logo.

Anyone but them is now probably a target; other candidates, voters or the various organisers of the electoral process.

A message so clear and wicked, preceded by two other attacks against security forces in Al-Arish, is the biggest threat that puts the possibility of  the election process on the line.

Protecting polling stations and those who work in them, and urging scared citizens to go vote without fear, are extremely difficult tasks. However, if we succeed, we would rebalance the equation and put control in the hands of the country once more.