The founder of Islamist militant group Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt) and former leading member of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis was killed in a confrontation with police forces, a spokesperson for Egypt’s interior ministry said on Sunday.
Hamam Mohamed Ahmad Ali Atiya was hiding in a flat located in Giza’s Haram district where he planned and prepared for attacks that targeted and killed policemen, General Hani Abdel-Latif said, according to Al-Ahram’s Arabic website.
When Hamam became aware of the presence of the police forces that were about to raid his hideout, he opened fire at them before they shot and killed him, Abdel-Latif explained.
Hamam possessed an automatic firearm, a pistol, four explosive devices including one with a magnet so that it could be attached to a car, 18 incomplete explosive devices, materials used to make bombs and over EGP 76,000. He was wanted for a number of terror-related attacks.
Ajnad Misr has claimed responsibility through social media for many of their militant attacks that primarily targeted police forces over the past few months, mostly by planting basic explosive devices. The last operation they claimed responsibility for was late last month when an improvised explosive device detonated outside a metro station near Cairo University located in Giza.
Abdel-Latif outlined that Hamam was once a leading figure in the Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, the group which has carried out many of the most violent attacks. It pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in November 2014, changing its name to Sinai Province.
Hamam parted company with Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis in 2013 to found Ajnad Misr.
He trained a number of militants on bomb making, Abdel-Latif said, adding that his group targeted police and military personnel in 26 operations.
Anti-government Islamist militants have repeatedly attacked police and army targets in Sinai, as well as in Cairo and the Delta, leaving hundreds dead and injured. Civilians have also fallen victim during some violent attacks.
Confrontations between security personnel and Islamist militants have intensified since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Ahram on Line
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