Egypt Police Say They Arrested 13 Of A New Alleged Cairo Militant Group

Security officials said Wednesday they have arrested 13 members of a new alleged armed group that threatened attacks against police in south Cairo, Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website reported.

Prosecution is currently investigating those arrested, who are believed to belong to “Kataeb Helwan,” Arabic for “Helwan Brigades,” officials told Al-Ahram. Helwan is a southern suburb of the capital.

The alleged, self-proclaimed militia appeared in a video, published and circulated on social media networks, where they vowed to target all police facilities in south Cairo.

The video, including a group of 12 men wearing masks, holding rifles and some waving the four-fingered sign associated with the forceful dispersal of the pro-Mohamed Morsi Rabaa Al-Adawyia camp in 2013, was reportedly released Thursday, on the first anniversary of the Rabaa dispersal.

Interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim stated that police will investigate the video and ordered the arrest of those involved.

Since Morsi’s ouster last summer, a wave of militant attacks have swept the country. Assaults have primarily targeted security forces and have been claimed by a radical Islamist militia known as Ansar Beit El-Maqdis. Smaller attacks were claimed by another group called Ajnad Misr.

In prior videos released by Ansar Beit El-Maqdis and Ajnad Misr, the attacks are described as revenge for the violent crackdown against Morsi supporters that left hundreds killed and thousands in jail.

Source : Ahram online