Egypt: Suspected militants killed in Giza December 30

Event

The Ministry of the Interior announced that three suspected militants were killed during an operation in Giza on Saturday, December 30. According to the authorities, security forces got into a gunfight with the suspects during a raid on their hideout at a farm. Another ten militants were detained during separate operations in Qaliyobia, Giza, and Fayoum provinces. Security sources seized explosives, weapons, and ammunition during the raids.

Context

The suspected militants are believed to be members of the Hasm movement. Officials said that the group was planning to carry out attacks targeting Coptic Christians during Christmas celebrations on January 7. The Hasm movement is a Muslim Brotherhood-linked group which regularly targets Egyptian security forces and public officials in bombings and drive-by shootings.

Egypt remains under a state of emergency, originally declared following IS attacks on churches in Alexandria and Tanta, which killed 44 people on Palm Sunday in April 2017.

Advice

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, individuals throughout Egypt should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Some governments advise their nationals against all travel to the Sinai Peninsula due to the persistent terrorist threat.