Security Directorate bomb suspect killed by police

The Interior Ministry released a statement Tuesday announcing the death of a suspect in last January’s attack on Cairo Security Directorate, privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm daily newspaper reported.

Mohamed al-Sayed Mansour al-Toukhy, also known as Abu Obaida, was frequenting a civilian apartment in Ain Shams — east of Cairo — where, according to the statement, security forces attempted to arrest him as he was walking through the neighbourhood. “He used a gun to shoot at security forces, who fired back leading to his death,” Al-Masry Al-Youm said.

Three explosions shook the capital on Friday January 24, claiming the lives of five and causing dozens of injuries. The largest attack targeted the Cairo Security Directorate very early on Friday morning and caused severe damage to the Museum of Islamic Arts situated opposite. The museum carried original manuscripts and documents, most of which were destroyed by the fire and flooding as a result of the explosion.

An audio recording was released by Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdes a few hours before the attack on the Security Directorate. The group’s spokesperson called on security forces to take their government-supplied arms and turn against their command or become targets themselves.

“Repent and save yourselves. If you can escape with your weapon then do that. Otherwise, you know that soldiers are dealt with as one bloc. We will target you as we target your leaders. And you saw what has been happening in security directorates, to buses carrying troops, and at checkpoints… What is coming is going to be much worse,” the recording continued.

However, the group hasn’t released any direct statements claiming responsibility for this specific attack since.

Security sources told Al-Arabiya news website that, in line with the police’s mission to “track and arrest terrorists involved in violent attacks against citizens and public property,” Mohamed Dorry al-Taliawi was arrested on charges of setting off a crude bomb in front of a movie theatre in Haram Street on the same day. The explosion claimed the life of one passer-by.