Interior minister orders security alert, considering regional turmoil

CAIRO – 8 June 2017: Security plans must accommodate the magnitude of terrorist threats in light of the current regional turmoil, Minister of Interior Magdy Abdel Ghaffar stated Thursday, pointing out expectations that terrorist elements would utilize the situation to destabilize the region.

In a meeting with heads of security, Ghaffar ordered to take the highest levels of security preparedness at the vital institutions, national and investment projects, as well as churches and places of worships and the roads leading to them.

He further instructed to coordinate with the managers of monasteries to reduce the visits and celebrations, in light of possible threats; and he pointed out the necessity to intensify security measures in touristic places.

Praising the efforts put forth to reclaim the squatted lands in the past month, the minister stressed that this cause will remain at the top of the Ministry’s priority to prevent the reoccurrence of such violations, as per the directions of the political leadership.

State authorities managed to return 919.458 feddans of squatted lands between May 16 and 31, 2017, Chairman of the Administrative Control Authority (ACA), Mohamed Erfan revealed Wednesday.

At the end of the meeting, Ghaffar praised the security efforts of the Ministry in all fields, expressing his confidence in the police officers.