Investigations reveal Sudan is safe haven for IS group

CAIRO – 9 May 2018: The investigations conducted by Egypt’s public prosecution in the case of the Islamic State group in Sinai, which included 555 defendants, revealed that the IS group moved to Sudan as a safe haven after their defeat in Libya.

It was revealed that the terrorist Hani Abdul Samad Abdul Sattar was responsible for smuggling accused members to Sudan. Rahman Mohammed Mahdi Shklov, a member of IS, was responsible for providing clothes to members.

The list of defendants also included fugitive Tarek el-Zomor, former chairman of the Building and Development Party. Zomor is accused of funding terrorist activities in Egypt following the July 2013 revolution, Al-Shorouq newspaper reported on Sunday.

Zomor was among the terrorists who assassinated former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat during a military parade on October 6, 1981 while celebrating the 1973 victory against Israel.

Zomor served a prison sentence before he joined the Salafist Building and Development Party formed after the January 25th Revolution. He is currently the chairman of Al Jama’a Al-Islamiyya and the Building and Development Party. He was also a member of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. He is charged with a number of terror-related cases and inciting violence.

According to officials, out of the 555 defendants, 216 would appear in court, while 339 would be tried in absentia.

Egypt has been hit by significant militant attacks in recent years, especially after Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohamed Morsi was toppled following mass protests against his rule.

On February 9, the Egyptian Armed Forces launched a full-scale military operation titled "Sinai 2018" to confront terrorist elements in Sinai and other areas across the country.