The Spokesperson for Egypt's Armed Forces, Ahmed Mohamed Ali, has denied reports by a foreign news agency about the army assuming responsibility for the Interior Ministry's facilities in North Sinai.
The Interior Ministry's security forces are operating normally and with their full force, Ali said on his facebook page, arguing that the situation on the grounds proves that news reports were both false and illogical. He urged cautiousness in quoting information from non-official sources.
The German news agency DPA had earlier reported that the army assumed responsibility for all security facilities run by the Interior Ministry in North Sinai Monday, cordoning off the governor’s office with tanks and armored vehicles. A source had told the agency that security had been tightened on the Al-Salam Bridge over the Suez Canal and at the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel.
DPA had quoted sources as saying that the real reason behind the security increase is authorities’ fear of fresh protests outside the governorate building to demand the release of a kidnapped tribe chief.
Tensions and anger have become high among residents of Arish as Abdel Karim Badawy, the chief of Aghwat tribe, remains in kidnappers’ hands. The security sitaution has been tense since unidentified attackers killed three policemen in North Sinai Saturday. The attack was the most serious incident in the region since the 5 August attack on a checkpoint that killed 16 soldiers.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
