Ahead of the anticipated 11 November protests, security forces in Minya arrested three teachers and a retired government employee on accusations they incited violence.
The arrests were organised by the National Security apparatus. The four will be referred to prosecution, where they will face charges of sabotage and planning attacks that aim to target state institutions and security facilities.
The Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms said that the four elderly individuals were arrested in Matay village in Minya.
The Ministry of Interior couldn’t confirm to Daily News Egypt whether the alleged activity of the suspects was online or in the streets. They added that they are members of the now banned Muslim Brotherhood group.
Privately-owned newspapers reported that the four constituted a “Brotherhood terrorist cell”.
More than a dozen arrests have taken place before Sunday’s arrests. Most of the arrested suspects are currently being interrogated by the prosecution as they are detained pending investigation. Most of them are accused of being members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
This comes amid calls launched by an online Facebook campaign, named the Ghalaba Movement, to protest on 11 November against the regime on grounds of rejecting the wave of price increases.
Despite public denunciation of the calls by the civilian and leftist parties, pro-state media warned against protests by the “opposition”.
State institutions and security apparatuses have been mobilising against any kind of dissent on that day. On the Ministry of Interior’s side, it asserted last week that security apparatuses are ready to face all challenges and will not be affected by rumours or allegations issued every now and then regarding 11 November.
