Egypt 'al-Qaeda linked plot on Western embassy' foiled

[Bombay]

Egyptian police have arrested three al-Qaeda militants planning a suicide attack on a Western embassy, the country's interior minister says.

Mohammed Ibrahim did not specify which embassy had been targeted, but said a quantity of chemicals had been found.

Mr Ibrahim gave the names of three men and said they were planning attacks in both Cairo and Alexandria.

The plot was said to be in its final stages, he said.

At a news conference, the minister gave details about the discovery of 10kg (22lbs) of explosive material, a computer with files containing information on bomb-making and a flash memory with instructions on how to build rockets.

"The interior ministry was able to direct a qualitative blow to a terrorist cell which was planning to carry out suicide attacks against vital, important and foreign establishments," Mr Ibrahim told reporters.

One of the three suspects had been in touch with al-Qaeda in Algeria and had travelled to Iran and Pakistan for training, he said.

All three men, described as jihadists, had been in touch with an al-Qaeda militant in Pakistan as well as another in the Sinai peninsula, he said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22495369

[Chocolate Eclair]

This does not surprise me at all, with the country being in a bit of Turmoil, I am suprised Al Qaeda has not rooted it self well and truly in the country. It does mean though that the Al Qaeda group has its eyes firmly on the Country, thinking that they may well get away with a soft touch. However well done to the Security Services on stopping what could have been a bloody massacre.

[Dusak]

Yes, all well and good, but why are they refusing to name the Embassy, why are they not saying how the police 'discovered' these potential terrorists. According to the BBC24, to many questions are being left unanswered.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Much more specific info is needed. Highly doubt it was an American Embassy as there is nothing on the news here about it AND it has been a super busy week in the USA with happenings: 3 women being found after being held hostage for 10 yrs, the Boston Bombings, Factory blowing up in Texas, foiled terrorist plot on a train coming from Canada to the USA and on and on and on but no mention of this matter (yet)

[Bullet Magnet]

Another NON event caught by the ever efficent Authorities before it happened.. eh ?
Keeping you safe from the invisible monster under your bed...

[Dusak]

According to the latest update, it was the Egyptian embassy, but it took a little time for them to realise they had any.

[Kevininabydos]

According to the latest update, it was the Egyptian embassy, but it took a little time for them to realise they had any.

"Egyptian" embassy in Cairo and Alexandria?? Oh, that would be the Egyptian foriegn office or interior ministry then...........strange, I am sure I read "WESTERN" embassy but there we are

[Dusak]

It's err...all in the placement of the tongue Kevininabydos

[Zooropa]

Im not so sure, under any circumstances that it would be wise to publish how they were caught.

Why give them feedback on how not to do it next time?

[LovelyLadyLux]

Can't say I disagree Z. It has always been one of my personal favourites to watch TV as they meticulously describe how the bad guys made the weapons they used, how they scammed the good guys, how they beat the system etc. and then give explicit directions to where on the Web further instructions can be found. I also find it fascinating when all the 'weak spots' are pointed out and how easily we could be overcome if only this or that was done........warms the heart it does.

[Hafiz]

Article says they were prospective suicide bombers and were caught with 10kgs of chemicals/explosive materials and info on rockets.

Rockets aren't generally useful for suicide bombers unless they propose a Dr Strangelove type of hit.

Suicide jackets are generally made of complicated explosives difficult to cook up at home from chemicals.

Agree with others that this story sounds like a beat up probably designed to make government look good and frighten the liberals into supporting the government.

Most likely embassy targets in Cairo are massively protected - if you were going to do that hit a car bomb would be the way to go but that would require hundreds of kilos.

[DJKeefy]

Al-Qaeda targeted US, French embassies in Cairo: Investigators.

Investigations have revealed that members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group – who escaped from prison during Egypt's 2011 uprising – had planned attacks on the US and French embassies in Cairo, according to official Egyptian news agency MENA.

Investigations further revealed that members of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist cell were in communication with a terrorist cell in Cairo's Madinet Nasr district, members of which are currently on trial.

Also on Thursday, Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution detained Egyptian national Mohamed Abu El-Ela on suspicions of being a member of a terrorist cell linked to Al-Qaeda.

Abu El-Ela, who is set to remain in detention pending further investigation, has been charged with having links to terrorist leader Dawood El-Asady, who is said to have directed terrorist operations in Egypt.

Abu El-Ela is also charged with helping El-Asady create a cell in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

He is currently being interrogated by security officers who also suspect him of planning terrorist operations against the Egyptian army in Sinai and the US and French embassies in Cairo.

Last September, Islamist demonstrators staged a series of rallies outside the US embassy in Cairo to condemn a US-made film mocking Islam. Ensuing clashes between protesters and security forces left scores injured from both sides.

Investigations also reportedly turned up three other suspected terrorists: Mohamed Abdel-Halim Saleh, recently extradited from Algeria to Egypt; Mostafa Ibrahim Bayoumy; and Amr Mohamed Eiqedah, extradited from Iran and jailed with Saleh in 2009.

All three are said to have escaped jail during Egypt's 2011 uprising, when hundreds of prisoners reportedly broke out of prisons countrywide amid a post-revolution security vacuum.

According to MENA, investigations have also revealed that the suspects had used certain internet websites to coordinate with Al-Qaeda and jihadist movements in Syria, Iran, Iraq and Morocco.

Eiqedah reportedly travelled to Iraq from Iran to join jihadist movements fighting US forces in Iraq and the Gulf. Iranian authorities reportedly arrested him in 2006 and extradited him to Egypt, where he was jailed – until he escaped in the immediate wake of the revolution.

Investigators said that the suspects had planned suicide attacks – with the use of car bombs – against the US and French embassies in Cairo.

Investigators also revealed that Eiqedah and Saleh had both been in close contact with the Madinet Nasr terrorist cell.

The suspects reportedly confessed to having been in contact with Al-Qaeda, but denied any plans to carry out terrorist attacks.

Investigators say that the suspects targeted the French embassy to protest recent French military intervention in Africa.

On 18 January, Egyptian security forces stepped up security around the French embassy in Cairo after dozens of Islamist activists staged a protest against French military intervention in Mali.

French military operations in the African nation were launched some nine months ago after Malian rebels – with alleged links to Al-Qaeda – seized the northern half of the country.

On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande stressed that France had "no intention" of maintaining troops in Mali.

Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/71566.aspx

[Bullet Magnet]

I always get suspicious whenever " Al-Qaeda" is mentioned.

To ANYONE in the know, " Al-Qaeda" is actually the name of a CIA database of the "suspected and known" names of members of the Muhadjadin, trained by the CIA in Pakistan. !!!

So basically what we are supposed to have here is a terrorist ( depends on which side you are on as to WHOM is the terrorist BTW. ) organisation with a name, in this case "Al-Qaeda" that non of the members know they are actually in..

What a game...

[unexplained]

I always get suspicious whenever " Al-Qaeda" is mentioned.

To ANYONE in the know, " Al-Qaeda" is actually the name of a CIA database of the "suspected and known" names of members of the Muhadjadin, trained by the CIA in Pakistan. !!!

So basically what we are supposed to have here is a terrorist ( depends on which side you are on as to WHOM is the terrorist BTW. ) organisation with a name, in this case "Al-Qaeda" that non of the members know they are actually in..

What a game...

Bullet Magnet , i do not think you know what you are talking about.

I am pretty sure you are not old enough (maybe under 18), otherwise you would not be saying these stuff.

[Bullet Magnet]

Do ignore my work colleagues, It took them all afternoon and a failed account setup just to get onto this forum.

One is Italian ( not his fault ) , and he claims that the Romans came to the UK, ( and the rest of the world) to, Q
uote, end Quote, "Tame and educate the Barbarians" ..

Also the guy that sits next to him is Greek, ( again, not his fault ) and he claims the same thing..


We operate a "care in the community" program at work, and these 2 total retards got assigned to me to look after...



See you tomorrow boys... 2 Sugars in my tea, and I will be taking the sharp crayons away from you tomorrow...

Oh, and no need to thank me for fixing your computers after you left ......

[Hafiz]

Bullet Magnet shouldn't be flippant because the issue is a serious one for Egypt..

Firstly, Egypt is very sensitive to terror because it has happened before and the effects on tourism and international investment were catastrophic. A current approach which adopts a broad definition takes account of previous experience and the serious effects of it. The risk might only be moderate but the consequences would be dreadful. They are on a hair trigger and might be prone to exaggerate. Given previous experience this is understandable.

Secondly, as he should well know, Al Qaeda has become a franchise as well as a resource for aspiring terrorists. Their websites assist and/or radicalize many who are not direct members or who pursue different agendas. Money might also change hands. You don't need to be a paid up member to share some or all of their aims. The Boston case seems to be an example as are several dozen convictions in Australia and more serious plots in the UK. How the authorities categorize them is irrelevant, its a catch all phrase for people with similar objectives and methods and it is not always possible to work out exactly how they 'fit' in the hierarchy if, indeed, there is an organized structure in any way in which we would understand it.I suspect that it is difficult to conclusively prove that they are on the inside or around the edges or floating in the blog sphere.

Thirdly, the chaos in Libya means that all types can cross the border into Egypt and this will cause future problems. Egypt will adopt a wide definition of these until it can rule them out.

Fourthly, al Qaeda types are drawn from abroad by chaos or its prospect, and the the prospects of chaos in Egypt are not low.

You don't need to know much about al Qaeda to become radicalized, as those who have seen a UK documentary on sad, alienated and radicalized UK citizens from non-Muslim backgrounds who barely understand the Quaranic suras they quoting to justify jihad.

The reference to the Mujaheddin is a red herring. The Mujaheddin harbored, assisted in training, armed, harbored and protected al Qaeda. They should be on any list and who trained or funded them 30 years ago is irrelevant compared to the potential risk they now pose to both the west and to the third world.

For me, a big broadly defined data base of threats is to be supported and any fine distinctions worked out later.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Excellent post Hafiz!

[Bullet Magnet]

The point is though why do such organisations exist in the first place. ?
Hatshepsut had nothing to do with AL Quaeda, and most of the 9/11 "terrorists" allegedly from that group were still alive after 9/11.

Plenty of Red Herrings around that is for sure...

Recruitment to such organisations is easy when these people are kept in poverty and ignorance...

As I said before, these "foiled Attacks" were never going to happen, the only attacks only seem to happen when our own governments get involved, usually to strip us of our freedom, or part with more money, excuse for a war for oil program etc... being the end result,

It all comes down to the Banks at the end of the day, future invasions are easy to work out...

All part of the game...