New details unleashed in tragic Rafah incident

A senior security source revealed that the latest Rafah incident, which left 16 Egyptian officers and soldiers dead, may be affiliated with the Tawhid and Jihad group. Al-Akhbar Egyptian newspaper reported a security source saying: “These groups planned a suicide operation using explosive belts.” This came at a time when the military council declared 35 terrorists attacks on one guard monitoring the border. Military prosecution will begin their investigations by moving to the site of the attack, examining it, taking shots of the place and forming an initial idea of the sequence of attack. Military authorities also listened to the testimonies of the casualties and examined the bodies of martyrs as they started the Eagle 2 operation to arrest the perpetrators and inciters of the incident. The result was the arrest of Ali Ahmed Abdullah, 43, known as Abu Shita based on information that he was hiding at Yahya Abu Zari’s in Sheikh Zuwayed.   Information revealed that he led the military wing in bombings of Taba, Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh in 2005 and is accused of attacking Al-Arish Second Police Station. He was sentenced to death in absentia. He was also complicit in the attack on Horiya checkpoint as a passport of a Palestinian was found in his possession. He admitted to receiving two Palestinians on July 31 after penetrating into Egypt through the tunnels. The two Palestinians left his home hours before the attack and returned immediately after to tell him that they participated in the Rafah attack. Security forces also arrested Yunis A.D., 20, his uncle Mahmoud M. D., 30, whose photos were featured exclusively in Al-Akhbar. The suspects were arrested in Al-Fatayat village in Sheikh Zuwayed in a major operation. In a hideout beside their house, two missile launching basis were found, four anti-tank landmines, a grenade, five TNT explosives, three missile propellant explosives, 660 bullets and three machine guns. The two suspects were taken to military prosecution and arrested. According to the newspaper, security forces also succeeded in arresting Fureij H.F, 45, who turned out to be in charge of training terrorist agents in Sinai. A cannon part was found, three landmine parts, an empty missile, 100 bullets, seven empty ammunition boxes, and a mass for a multi-weapon. Another agent whose initials are M.A. and who fired at RPG soldiers, was arrested in the house where he was hiding. Security agencies announced a list of the most wanted. Among them were S.F, 35, and his brother A.F, 32, who face sentences of up to 35 years in absentia for being main participants in the Al-Risa checkpoint attack. They are listed as dangerous and accused in many cases of murder, robbery, and imposing royalties. Sources affirmed that they were wanted in criminal and political cases. Within confrontation, forces were able to kill Hatem A., 37, from Cairo, Yahya A., 19 from Al-Gharbiya, Mohamed M., 30, from Sinai, Mohamed A.S. from Al-Gharbiya, and a Palestinian called Mohamed M. through storming operations in Naja Shabana area. Investigations had revealed that M.A.S, 32, known as Abu Elias, from Mahala Al-Kobra - the main financer of the Horiya checkpoint bombing - was hiding in this area. Information also showed that he went to Afghanistan where he was trained by al-Qaeda, attempted to travel to Somalia but was prevented to finally settle in Sheikh Zuwayed. According to information obtained, the suspect bought a piece of land at Naja Shabana and devoted it to training jihadist groups after recruiting extremist youth. After an exchange of fire, the suspect was arrested and in his possession a chemical explosive substance and books inciting jihad and a burned laptop. Following his arrest, the suspect provided critical information around the Horiya checkpoint bombings. In a large scale operation in Sheikh Zuwayed, specifically in Al-Wahsh area, the most dangerous terrorist agent, 28, was found amid violent clashes where militants used RPG missiles, causing wounds to two police conscripts. In the suspect’s possession, an international phone SIM card was found with names of outlaws, documents and CDs unveiling the plan of the group he belongs to. Within security agencies’ measures to trace agents that were able to escape out of Sinai, police arrested Mazen Fathi Abdelhadi Matir, 23, a Palestinian who entered Cairo three months earlier, met a youth in Kafr Taharmas and asked him to work for the MOSSAD and travel to Italy. He disappeared days before the explosions and returned hours after. Through field work by Al-Akhbar delegations that stayed in Sinai for over a month, it was found that agents of the Palestinian Tawhid and Jihad group, Egyptian Jaish Al-Islam and Jaljala groups participated in the Sinai incident after the three groups agreed to carry out suicide attacks in Sinai. It was also revealed that M.A., known as Abu Elias, was the main financer of the attacks, Ahmed Abdullah the head of the military wing, and Fureij A., 45, was in charge of training. Evidences of their charges were missile launch bases, anti-tank landmines, remote controlled aircrafts, maps, and 4-wheel-drive cars. Meanwhile security bodies refrained from announcing the suspects for reasons of preserving the secrecy and accuracy of investigations. The Supreme Council of Armed Forces had announced a few days earlier the results of the Eagle military operation in Sinai during which 32 were killed, 58 arrested and undergoing investigation.