Interior Ministry announces arrests from 31 terrorist cells

Security forces have managed to arrest members of 31 terrorist and jihadi fundamentalist cells in the last month, according to Ministry of Interior spokesperson, Hany Abdel Latif.

Abdel Latif said on Sunday that security forces successfully prevented 16 attacks planned against polling stations during the presidential elections, Metro stations, electricity and mobile telephone installations, as well as attacks in other public areas.

The security official added that since mid-May, a number of firearms, 78 explosive devices, and 202 Molotov cocktails, in addition to a large quantity of fireworks, have been confiscated.

Abdel Latif added that the police arrested 527 suspects accused of vandalism, thuggery and links with banned groups. Another 315 suspects accused of attacking police stations and public and private property were also apprehended, he said.

According to official news agency MENA, Abdel Latif denied the existence of any members of the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham (ISIS) terrorist group in the Sinai Peninsula, despite contrary media reports. He added that security forces in cooperation with the Armed Forces have successfully eliminated or arrested 95 percent of terrorists in the north of the restive peninsula.

The ministry spokesperson stated that Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim has personally headed raids on criminal groups and illegal occupancies affecting traffic, as well as violations on agricultural land and state property.