Egypt extends state of emergency for 3 months

CAIRO - 12 October 2017: Egypt will extend a national state of emergency for three months as of Friday, October 13 at 1 p.m., according to a presidential decree released Thursday.

According to the decision, the armed forces and police authorities are assigned to take necessary measures to combat terror risks, maintain security across the country, and protect public and private properties.

This is the second extension to the state of emergency, which was declared in April after twin church bombings left at least 40 killed in Tanta and Alexandria governorates.

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the two explosions. Since then, Egypt has adopted amendments to the criminal procedures act; the amendments focused on improving some regulations to allow courts to speedily judge and issue verdicts on terrorism-related cases.