The armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, designated as an illegal organization in Egypt, had its planned attacks on the country’s security and economic centers foiled by Egyptian security forces. A statement released by the Egyptian Interior Ministry said that those who played a leading role in planning the attack were linked to the Hasm Movement, which is associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. The ministry stated that they had received information about the Hasm Movement’s plans to resume activities in Egypt and carry out hostile acts. The group planned to smuggle a wanted individual into the country through a regional border shared with a neighboring country. The ministry said that the purpose was to use this Hasm Movement-affiliated person to launch attacks on Egypt’s security and economic centers.
The statement further said that the Egyptian National Security Agency had identified the Hasm Movement leaders behind this plot. Additionally, it mentioned that more members of the group were apprehended during a security operation in the Bulaq district of Cairo, the capital of Egypt. The statement also said that Egyptian security forces had raided a hideout of Hasm Movement militants. When security forces arrived at the area, the armed militants of the group opened fire, according to the statement. Consequently, the security forces had to respond to their attacks. In the exchange of fire between the two sides, two militants and a civilian passerby were killed. A police officer was also injured while trying to save the civilian.
The Interior Ministry said that this incident occurred at a time when the Hasm Movement had shared a video on social media showing their militants training in a remote desert area of a neighboring country. The video included threats of attacks on Egypt. The Hasm Movement is designated as a terrorist organization by both the United Kingdom and the United States.
