| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
Egyptian security arrest Rafah attack suspects (including Hamas members)
Egyptian security arrest Rafah attack suspects
Jamal Al-Qassas Asharq Al-Awsat Wednesday, 28 Aug, 2013
Several men suspected involvement in the attack which killed 25 Egyptian
soldiers in Sinai last week have been arrested by the security forces
http://www.aawsat.net/2013/08/article55315077
Cairo, Asharq Al-AwsatA source in Al-Arish town in northern Sinai has
confirmed reports of the arrests of perpetrators of the Rafah II attack,
which killed 25 Egyptian conscripts last week. The killings followed the
ending of the pro-Mursi Muslim Brotherhood protests in Rabaa Al-Adawiya and
Nahda squares in Cairo and Giza, respectively.
The source added that five of those arrested were members of Hamas, three
were Sinai residents, and three were foreign nationals, adding that the
arrests were made near the Rafah area four days ago. He said the operation
was kept secret by the army and police for security reasons. He added that
security forces waited for the conclusion of interrogations and until
intelligence workin following other leads which may be linked to the
incidentwas completed.
The source added that reports of the arrests of the perpetrators of the
incident became subject of rumors in the area, especially among powerful
families. He also added that these rumors included reports that the Egyptian
army had attacked a base run by extremist Palestinians, where Palestinian
and Egyptian elements, as well as other nationalities, were trained to carry
out terrorist attacks in Sinai and other Egyptian areas.
Commenting on the situation in Al-Arish, the source said the city had
started to get back to relative normality, especially with residents rising
confidence in the security forces ability to deter terrorists, following
the arrests of many of them recently.
Reports in Cairo yesterday said security forces in northern Sinai arrested
15 men suspected of involvement in the murder of the soldiers in the Rafah
II massacre, despite denials by a senior official of the arrest of all
perpetrators of the murder, and who said investigations were ongoing.
In a related incident, an explosive device exploded near a police station in
Sheikh Zuwaid town on Tuesday, without causing damage or casualties. Reports
said the market area of the town witnessed heavy clashes between armed men
and security forces. The market is held every Tuesday and attracts large
numbers of people. Witnesses said the entrances to the market area were
closed by security, and there were reports of casualties.
An eyewitness told Asharq Al-Awsat by telephone that the towns police
station and other official buildings had been hit by rockets.
He added that one of the assailants attempted to escape by kidnapping a
child, but that a member of the security forces shot him in the head, saving
the child. A security building in Rafah also came under attack by armed
insurgents causing injuries among the attackers when police confronted them.
Source: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=61811
