April 16, 2014 | Quote

Egyptian Accused of Terrorism Charges After Returning From Syria

Prosecution has ordered the detention of an Egyptian citizen, who recently returned from fighting in Syria, for 15 days on terror-related charges.

The 38 year-old man was ordered to be detained by the Suez Prosecution on charges of planning to implement terrorist operations inside Egypt and coordinating with extremist groups, state-run MENA reported.

He is a former employee in a petroleum company in Suez, and returned to Egypt after fighting in Syria alongside the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front.

Research associate at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies David Barnett, who focuses on Salafi jihadists in the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip, said: “At least four members of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis died in Egypt after returning from Syria. For example, Walid Badr, who was the suicide bomber in the attempted assassination of [Minister of Interior] Mohammed Ibrahim in September, had fought in Syria.”

Barnett added: “Fahmi Abdul Raouf Muhammad and Samir Abdul Hakim, who were suspected of being involved in some of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis’s mainland operations, had both fought in Syria.”

“The majority of Egyptians who continue to partake in the Syria conflict are fighting the [Bashar] Al-Assad regime,” said Barnett. “The exact breakdown of which group they are joining is unknown; however, some are certainly fighting with ISIS and al Qaeda’s Al Nusra Front.” 

Read the full article here.
 

Issues:

Egypt Syria