Sharm
ash Shaykh to discuss terrorism and peace process. President Clinton
joined President Mubarak, then Prime Minister Pres., King Hussein,
Chairman Arafat and other heads of state and government at the meeting.
EGYPT
Islamic extremist violence fell in 1996. The number of fatalities-including noncombatants (105), police(59) and extremists (38) killed-fell sharply from 375 in 1995 to 202. most incidents continued to occur in the provinces of upper Egypt. In spite of improved security, however, al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group or IG) succeeded in conducting a shooting attack against foreign tourists at a Cairo hotel in April. Although this hotel attack generated the largest casualty count form a single incident in Egypt's modern history, the total number of deaths from extremist violence dropped sharply in 1996 after increasing steadily during the previous four years.
The IG continued its pattern of hit and run attacks in upper Egypt against police and suspected police informers and its robberies of jewelry stores to finance its operations. Minya Governorate ranked highest in terrorist incidents which included the IG's killing of a high ranking police official in April but attacks also occurred in Asyut Governorate. The IG's shooting attack in April outside the Europa Hotel in Cairo that killed 18 Greek tourists waiting to board a bus disputed the previous year's lull in incidents in Cairo and northern urban areas. The IG said it had intended to kill Israeli tourists to avenge Israeli strikes earlier that month against Hizballah forces in southern Lebanon. The smaller group al-Jihad also condemned Israeli action and threatened to hit "American and Israeli targets everywhere. "Al-Jihad did not claim responsibility for any attacks in Egypt during 1996.
Although the IG carried out no attacks outside Egypt in 1996, a senior IG leader who said he was speaking from Afghanistan publicly threatened in April to kidnap US citizens in retaliation for the sentencing to life in prison by the United States of Shaykh Umar Abd al Rahman, the IG's spiritual leader, in January . The Shaykh was convicted in October 1995 for planning to carry out several terrorist conspiracies in the United States.
The Egyptian Government hosted the Summit of
Peacemakers in March at Sharm
ash Shaykh to discuss terrorism and peace process. President Clinton
joined President Mubarak, then Prime Minister Pres., King Hussein,
Chairman Arafat and other heads of state and government at the meeting.
In recent events, fundamentalist attacked a group of 70 tourists at the temple complex of Luxor. The Egyptian government responded quickly killing all five terrorists, but failed to save the lives of many tourists. As a result, Egypt has increased its security levels at all tourist attraction. The attack came at a critical time of the Egyptian tourist season, which accounts for a third ofthe Egyptian economy.
Alias:
Jihad Group, Vanguards of Conquest, Talaa' al-Fateh, International Justice Group, World Justice Group
Description:
An Egyptian Islamic extremist group active since the late 1970s; appears to be divided into at least two separate factions: remnants of the original Jihad led by Abbud al-Zumar, currently imprisoned in Egypt, and a faction calling itself Vanguards of Conquest (Talaa' al-Fateh). The Vanguards of Conquest appears to be led by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is currently outside Egypt; his specific whereabouts are unknown. Like al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya, the Jihad factions regard Sheikh Umar Abd-al Rahman as their spiritual leader. The goal of all Jihad factions is to overthrow the government of President Hosni Mubarak and replace it with an Islamic state.
Activities:
Specializes
in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian Government officials. The
original Jihad was responsible for the assassination in 1981 of President
Anwar Sadat. Unlike al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya, which mainly targets mid- and
lower-level security personnel, Coptic Christians, and Western tourists,
al-Jihad appears to concentrate primarily on high-level, high-profile
Egyptian Government officials, including cabinet ministers. Claimed
responsibility for the attempted assassinations of Interior Minister
Hassan al-Alfi in August 1993 and Prime Minister Atef Sedky in November
1993.
Strength:
Not known, but probably several thousand hardcore members and another several thousand sympathizers among the various factions.
Description:
An indigenous Egyptian Islamic extremist group active since the late 1970s; appears to be loosely organized with no single readily identifiable operational leader. Shaykh Umar Abd al-Rahman is the preeminent spiritual leader. Goal is to overthrow the government of President Hosni Mubarak and replace it with an Islamic state.
Activities:
Armed attacks against Egyptian security and other government officials, Coptic Christians, and Egyptian opponents of Islamic extremism. The group also has launched attacks on tourists in Egypt since 1992. Al-Gama'at claimed responsibility for the attempt in June 1995 to assassinate President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Strength:
Not known, but probably several thousand hardcore members and another several thousand sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation:
Operates mainly in the Al Minya, Asyut, and Qina Governorates of southern Egypt. It also appears to have support in Cairo, Alexandria, and other urban locations, particularly among unemployed graduates and students.
External Aid:
Not known. Egyptian Government believes that Iran, Sudan, and Afghan militant Islamic groups support the group.