Egypt says it has arrested 54 alleged members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group who were plotting to foment chaos on the anniversary of Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring uprising.
The Interior Ministry on Tuesday said the individuals were arrested over the past weeks in different locations. It released images of old desktop computer towers and crude weapons like steel caltrops and spiked metal balls, which allegedly belonged to the group.
An Egyptian rights lawyer also says security forces have arrested at least six activists in a crackdown coinciding with the anniversary of the 2011 uprising.
Negad Borai on Wednesday said that among those arrested in the past two days is Yehia Hussein Abdel Hady, the former spokesman of the Civil Democratic Movement. The coalition of secular and left-leaning political parties had called for a boycott of Egypt’s presidential election last year.
He says five activists were arrested on Monday after they attended a ceremony in Cairo commemorating the Arab Spring uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
It is not clear if the activists are among 54 people who authorities said Tuesday were detained for plotting to foment chaos on the anniversary of the uprising.
