Video: Ashmawy’s arrest, Egypt awaits its top terrorist

CAIRO - 8 October 2018: High-profile terrorist Hesham Ashmawy tried to flee the besieged al-Maghar district of Derna, Libya, wearing an explosive belt, along with other terrorists holding machine guns, and the wife of dead Egyptian terrorist Omar Refaei Sorour and their children.
 
According to spokesperson of the Libyan army, Ahmed al-Mismary, Ashmawy tried to blow himself up before he was arrested, but because of the “surprise factor” and the speed of the operation, he could not detonate the belt.

Mismary said Ashmawy, an Egyptian former military officer, was given the treatment of a war prisoner and medical attention following arrest.

The Libyan military also refused to release pictures of the wife of Sorour, also an Egyptian, or of his children.
 
He is in a “secret place” and is being investigated in coordination with the Egyptians, and no extradition date to Egypt has been determined yet, Mismary said.

The Libyans also found the graves of Sorour and Sufian bin Qamu, another high-profile terrorist. Ashmawy reportedly has given important information to the Libyan army.

Bahaa Ali, a major Egyptian terrorist, and Mari’e Zeghbia were arrested in the same operation by Omar Mukhtar unit of the Libyan army, which constitute a blow to terrorism in the region, Mismary said.

Zeghbia reportedly fought in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside terrorist organizations.
 
Head of Derna town council Abdul Moneim al-Ghaithy said the city, once controlled by militants, is relieved that the very people who once held them hostages have been arrested, while the remaining terrorists are living in fear after their leaders’ detention.

Several members of parliament and strategic experts said Ashmawy represents a black box of information that will further help the fight against terrorism and that will expose countries that support terror.

Security sources told Youm7 that high-profile meeting were held simultaneously in Turkey and Qatar to discuss Ashmawy’s arrest.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian media rushed to interview families of slain Egyptian officers who were killed in operations orchestrated by their former peer to express their relief that he will be brought to justice.