Islamic State-linked militant groups emerging in Egypt

Channel News Asia ^ | 10/3/2014 | May Kamel

[markomalley]

Since the ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi from power last year, the Egyptian government has been battling a growing insurgency. Militant groups with affiliations to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State have sprung up all over the country, with a high concentration in the Sinai Peninsula where they have carried out attacks on security forces.

In one recent attack, a bomb killed two policemen in downtown Cairo. For Egyptians living in the densely populated area where the bombings took place, the attack has inspired a renewed confidence in the current government. “I'm calling on the President to tell him we put our trust in him and we voted for him. Now strike with an iron fist on this terrorism and we will all support you,” said Cairo resident Hussein Mohamed.

State security forces are tackling the insurgency head on - a move welcomed by many Egyptians. "We are moving forward, Egypt will not be side-tracked and terrorism, God willing, will be eradicated,” said Nader Saber, another Cairo resident.

The Egyptian army has launched several campaigns aimed at eradicating militant groups, but the impact is limited and has not put an end to such violent acts. The campaigns follow a similar campaign of elimination that former president Hosni Mubarak's regime enacted in the 1980s and 1990s.

"It is always possible that terrorist organisations can be exterminated. They can disappear in two scenarios - either they mix or merge in the political process or they are stamped or destroyed out by security," said Saed Sadek, professor of political science at the American University in Cairo.

One of the biggest fears of the Egyptian government is that Islamic State militants will infiltrate Egypt. Salafi militants in the Sinai are not directly affiliated with Islamic State, but have commended its work and drawn inspiration from its brutality. "On an organisational level, Islamic State is not in Egypt, but as a philosophy it does exist and therefore it is a real danger that those people (Salafi militants) will join IS, and the video they released, indicates an impending danger against Egypt,” said Maher Farghali, a journalist at Al-Watan newspaper.

In light of the growing danger of insurgency, Egypt has announced it is willing to support US-led actions against Islamic State while continuing to destroy militant cells inside its borders.

For most Egyptian citizens, domestic terrorism is a real fear as militant groups have taken advantage of recent political upheavals. Now the government is facing these groups head-on, to ensure that Islamic State stays out of Egypt.

[markomalley]

No surprise that the Muslim Brotherhood supporters would align themselves with the Caliphate. No surprise at all...

[PGalt]

“It is always possible that terrorist organisations can be exterminated. They can disappear in two scenarios - either they mix or merge in the political process or they are stamped or destroyed out by security,” said Saed Sadek, professor of political science at the American University in Cairo.

Possible…not probable. Witness the slaughterhouse of human history. Many have come and gone. Islam remains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dtFZ8CFo8