3 suspects arrested with explosives at Ain Shams University

Three suspects have been detained for 15 days by order of the west Cairo general prosecutor for the possession of seven crude bombs, which they allegedly attempted to plant inside the faculty of law at Ain Shams University, privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reported.

The defendants were arrested on Monday whilst attempting to climb into the faculty of law and the bombs and firearms were found in their possession.

They have been accused of belonging to a terrorist organization aiming to obstruct the law, hindering state institutions from performing their duties, limiting the personal freedom of citizens and harming national unity, as well as possessing unlicensed firearms and explosive devices.

Security forces defused 12 other crude bombs inside Ain Shams University.

The head of the explosives unit at the Interior Ministry in Cairo received a report from the university about 12 suspect objects that were later identified as crude nail bombs and were disposed of by a specialist unit.

The High Council for Universities held an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the security and educational situation at universities across the country.

The minister of higher education, Wael al-Degwy said that an off-campus police and army presence is being intensified to keep the peace.

Degwy stressed the importance of activating security protocols, signed with the Interior Ministry, ordering police forces onto campuses at the behest of the administrations when the situation demands it.

“However, there will not be any security presence on campuses at this moment, unless the situation requires it,” he said.

Student activists held a conference on Tuesday to reject Cairo University's decision to allow security forces on campus, and demand the protection of students without resorting to a police presence on campus.

“When police entered the University on January 16, three students were killed and 42 arrested. Currently there is a crisis of trust between students and the police,” said Ahmed Khalaf, head of Cairo University’s faculty of political science and economics student union.

Last week, three bombs exploded outside Cairo University campus resulting in the death of a police officer.

The recent wave of violence between university students and security forces has been ongoing since the forced removal of former president Mohamed Morsy from office in July last year.