Cairo, 5 Sept (AKI) - The number of people arrested by the Egyptian security forces on suspicion of belonging to an al-Qaeda cell has risen to 93, the pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports. Another 23 people were detained on Monday, the paper says, in the city of Damanhur, north of Cairo. The operation there came several hours after a similar sweep in the coastal city of Alexandria in which 70 people were arrested.
The inquiries by Egyptian police focus on attempts by the suspects to make contact with the al-Qaeda network through appeals and messages on the Internet. Those under investigation allegedly tried to contact the leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq to join their jihadi ranks. | "Single Egyptian male wants to meet al-Qaeda leader. Enjoys seething about jews, chanting death to Great Satan, and long walks in the desert. Send picture." |
The daily also carries the news of the release of 16 members of the Muslim Brotherhood. The men were among others arrested in August on accusations of belonging to the movement which though tolerated is officially banned. |