Prosecution to investigate terrorism allegations against Ultras

Egypt's Public Prosecutor Hesham Barakat ordered an investigation Wednesday into allegations by a lawyer against several leaders of the Ultras Ahlawy group for coordinating with terrorist organizations in spreading violence, state-owned EgyNews reported.

The allegations were made by lawyer Tarek Mahmoud, who is the founder of the “Public Front to Confront Egypt's Brotherhoodization.”

Mahmoud accused leaders of the Ultras Ahlawy soccer fan club of violence, especially against state institutions, since the outbreak of January 25 Revolution, EgyNews reported.

Barakat referred the allegations to his technical office for further investigation and assigned prosecution to hear the case.

Mahmoud claimed that the leaders of the Ultras fan group were directed by terrorist organizations and outside entities to weaken police forces and spread chaos and riots across the country, with the aim of toppling the state.

Mahmoud called on the authorities to arrest leaders of the group for their alleged involvement in acts of violence.

The Ultras Ahlawy has not yet released any official response to the allegations.

On March 10, football fan groups, including the Ultras Ahlawy, banded together to issue a joint statement demanding that police forces withdraw from stadiums during matches, and are replaced with security guards from private companies, in order to put an end to the escalating violence between the Ultras fan groups and the police.

The Ultras Ahlawy, Ultras White Knights, Ultras Devils, Ultras Green Magic, Ultras Yellow Dragon, Ultras Suez Commandos and Ultras Wills all signed the statement.

“We reject your presence in Egyptian stadiums; yes, just as you understand it. We reject the presence of police forces inside Egyptian stadiums. Enough with neglecting the main reason for stadium problems,” the statement read.

“Police forces are incapable of securing games. Look at the games that were held inside sports halls without the presence of police forces, they all passed peacefully without any problems, unlike those games that were heavily protected by police forces,” it continued.