Our intelligence detected 800 militant intruders in January 2011: Mubarak

CAIRO - 26 December 2018: Former President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak testified before the Criminal Court refusing to answer certain questions in the “Border Intrusion” case and insisting he needs a permission to disclose classified information.

Mubarak said he knew of the tunnels and that the state had never approved of them. He added that the tunnels had existed long time before January 25, 2011, and that they were used to smuggle food.

“(Former General Intelligence Chief) Omar Suleiman told me that around 800 militants intruded the borders,” Mubarak stated affirming that “they definitely caused harm to the security of the country,” when asked by Judge Sherine Fahmy.


Judge Sherine Fahmy listening to the testimony of former President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak in the Criminal Court in “Border Intrusion” case on December 26, 2018. Sada El Balad

Mubarak refused to answer if he knew if the intruders belonged to “Hamas and a neighboring country,” and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRSC). “I am not allowed to talk about details,” the former president said.

However, he stated that “they (the intruders) definitely crossed from Gaza. The crossing was facilitated by people from North Sinai, and whose identity is not known to me.”


Former President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak testifying before the Criminal Court in “Border Intrusion” case on December 26, 2018. Sada El Balad

“Intruders broke into police departments in Sinai then dispersed in the rest of the country, particularly in public squares, especially Tahrir Square,” Mubarak elaborated. “The militants got on the roofs and shot at people,” Mubarak stated.

“I have no information on the abduction of three police officers and a policeman amid January 2011,” he added.

“Intruders chose Wadi al-Natroun (prison) because it had prisoners affiliated with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. The militants killed policemen in Arish, Rafah, Sheikh Zowayed, and attacked the National Security building in Arish and police departments,” Mubarak testified.

“They helped prisoners affiliated with Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood escape,” Mubarak said. However, the former president said, “I do not know if they bombed the gas lines.”

Mubarak said he does not know if Hamas and the bedouins had controlled few kilometers on the borders in Sinai during the January 25 uprising as testified by Maged Nouh, former deputy of the interior minister for central security.

Former Head of North Sinai Security Directorate Hassan Hanafy had testified before that palestinians dug up those tunnels under the supervision of an entity in Gaza and that members affiliated with Hamas and Hezbollah illegally entered the country to commit murder and vandalism.

When asked if he knew of a plot involving the United States and Turkey to do the crimes mentioned above, Mubarak answered, “I don’t know.” Later, he said, “there are many plots but I can’t talk about them unless I get a permission.”

Mubarak also negated he had known of a report issued by the Representative Office of Egypt in Ramallah regarding such plot. Yet, he said, “moves by Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood were detected prior to January 25, 2011.”

Mubarak denied he knew of the types of arms the militant intruders used, and if Hamas manufactured in Gaza clothes similar to the Egyptian military uniform.

When asked if he knew of any coordination between Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, Mubarak said, “it is mentioned in Hamas' Charter that the group is part of the Muslim Brotherhood but I don’t know of any coordination amid January 2011.”

“The details are known by the General Intelligence, and the National Security,” Mubarak added.

Answering how he dealt with the tunnels issue, Mubarak said “each tunnel was ramified leading to exits in houses, farms, and different areas.”

“We destroyed many. We agreed with the defense ministry to get rid of those tunnels. A shooting from Gaza used to target those who were in charge of destroying the tunnels. That continued till January 25, 2011,” Mubarak affirmed.