Special operations forces raid fugitives' hotbeds in Asyut

CAIRO – 20 December 2017: Special operation forces officers, with thirty police armored vehicles, raided hotbeds in Asyut governorate to arrest culprits known for trafficking narcotics and possessing illegal firearms.

Under the supervision of Egyptian Interior Assistant Minister for Public Security Gen. Gamal Abdel Bary, Egyptian security officers managed to confiscate a range of illegally possessed weapons: 44 firearms (machine guns), 22 automatic rifles, 15 handguns, 5 homemade rifles, 200 bullets, and 5 detachable bullet magazines held by 37 defendants.

Amongst the culprits traced by security officers were fugitives sentenced for life imprisonment and parties of family feuds. The raided villages included Abnoub, Al Wasta Island and Al Bandar in Asyut governorate.

Recently, security forces combed Upper Egypt and Wahat governorates in search of escaped terrorists. Based on security information acquired over the last month, security forces also raided some spots in the Western Desert to pursue militants, following clashes between them and security forces in Wahat area, which claimed 17 officers and 15 militants.

The raids came after the state security services received information concerning a group of militants hiding in an abandoned house at the 47-kilometer mark along Asyut-Kharga Road.