IS-affiliated terrorist cell captured in Damietta: Ministry

CAIRO –7 June 2018: Security forces managed to disband a terrorist cell believed to be affiliated with Islamic State terrorist group (IS) in the delta province of Damietta and arrested all its members.

The armed group was comprised of sex elements, belonging to two separate families; Ahmad Salim al-Sayyed Assal, Hussam al-Din Salim al-Assal, Ashraf Abdul Hamid Mabrouk al-Shanawi, Ashraf Abd Rabbo, Ahmed Ashraf Abed Rabbo and Amel Abdel-Fattah.

The defendants faced charges of unlawfully forming an armed group to carry out hostile operations that aim at disturbing public order and security.

Also, security forces managed to seize 188 unlicensed weapons and to stop several cases of encroachment on agricultural and state-owned lands during several raids conducted across Egypt on the same day.

One week ago, security forces raided the country’s notorious drug-trafficking desert area of Al-Sehr W Al-Jamal (Charm and Beauty) and killed two criminals during a police shootout that also led to the injury of an officer.

A machine gun, 250 bullets and related chambers, a CZ 9mm pistol, large quantities of heroin, five digital scales, 10 mobile phones, an unlicensed motorcycle, and LE 23,000 ($1,284) were in possession of the criminals.

Since the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013, Egypt has put a number of people on a proscribed terrorist list over inciting chaos across the country.