Egypt: Police kill eight Hasm militants in Cairo and Giza December 20

Event

Police officers killed eight suspected Hasm Movement militants in two shootouts in Al-Salaam City (Cairo province) and Muneib district (Giza province) on Thursday, December 20. Additional security operations targeting suspected militants are possible in the Cairo area over the coming weeks.

Context

The Egyptian government accuses the Hasm Movement of being the armed wing of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Security forces are currently conducting a significant counterterrorism operation in Egypt. The "Sinai 2018" mission aims to neutralize suspected militant and criminal cells in the Sinai Peninsula, the Nile Delta, and the Western Desert, as well as reinforce state control along the country's borders. The Egyptian police and the army have been placed on maximum alert in these regions for the duration of the operation.

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 (e.g. 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.).