Egypt security forces kill 'most dangerous' members of militant group Seven members of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdas militant group were killed Sunday according to Egypt's interior minister Egypt's interior minister said on Sunday that a joint army and police offensive in Suez governorate resulted in the death of seven members of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis militant group, Reuters' Aswat Masriya reported. Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said in a press conference that police were tipped off that the Sinai-based militant group took shelter in Suez's Al-Galala Mountain, where they launched their attacks against security institutions and personnel. Ibrahim added that following a heavy shootout between both sides, security forces ultimately managed to kill the seven members and later identified them via a DNA test. The minister said these members were "considered to be among the most dangerous elements of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis," adding that they were responsible for the Farafra and Dabaa shootings and also participated in the bombings of Cairo and Daqahliya security directorates. The minister directed a message to the families of the victims of militant attacks saying "your sons have paved the way to stability, and the security forces will hunt down all those who use religion as a cover to their terrorist attacks." "The police are capable of facing the elements of evil, terrorism and outlaws," Ibrahim said as he concluded the press conference. A wave of militant attacks has been on the rise since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July of last year, with over 500 security personnel killed. The attacks are particularly more frequent in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Last April, an Egyptian court classified Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis as a terrorist organization. • Source: Text: Ahram Online

• published: 15 Sep 2014
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