Egypt raises state of alert, wary of Qatar crisis backlash

[Mosby]

Cairo- Egypt is preparing for back­lash over its decision to cut diplomatic ties with Doha in response to Qa­tar’s alleged financing of terrorist groups, raising the state of alert and beefing up security across the country.

“There are expectations that the pace of terrorist operations will accelerate after Egypt cut its dip­lomatic ties with Qatar,” said Mo­hamed Bilal, former Egyptian Army deputy chief of staff.

Cairo accused Doha of supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, which it has designated as a ter­rorist organisation. Several Broth­erhood figures, including many convicted in absentia of terrorism-related offences, sought refuge in Qatar.

“Qatar is directly involved in funding terrorist operations in Egypt and I think the authorities will come up with proof of this in the coming days,” said Bilal, who was commander of Egypt’s forces during the 1991 Gulf War.

A senior security official in­formed Egypt’s state-run Middle East News Agency of government fears that unspecified terrorist groups could seek to use “regional developments” to launch attacks in Egypt.

Egypt’s Interior Ministry raised the level of alert around the coun­try, including beefing up secu­rity near likely targets, such as police stations, banks, embassies and places of worship, especially churches and monasteries.

http://www.thearabweekly.com/News-&-Analysis/8682/Egypt-raises-state-of-alert%2C-wary-of-Qatar-crisis-backlash