Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Islamist insurgents have gained capability in bombings against the military-backed regime in Cairo.

Officials said insurgents led by the Muslim Brotherhood have achieved expertise in improvised explosive devices. They said the IEDs have become more sophisticated and coordinated.

“The terrorists are demonstrating capabilities seen in Iraq and other combat zones,” an official said.

On April 2, at least two people, including a senior officer, were killed and five others injured in three explosions at Cairo University. Officials said a fourth IED was neutralized before detonation in the most sophisticated bombing attack yet by the Brotherhood.

“Egypt will deal with this firmly and strongly,” Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Hani Abdul Latif said.

Abdul Latif said the bombings, which took place near the Saudi embassy, were conducted by Brotherhood cells. He said police were being targeted by what he termed “religious outcasts.”

Cairo University has been the scene of anti-government protests by supporters of the ousted Brotherhood. Critics said the latest bombing highlighted the failure of Egypt’s military and security forces to adapt to the increasing capabilities of Brotherhood cells.

“Security forces should rethink the way they deal with civilians, as it
created a new wave of terrorism,” the April 6 movement said. “Whoever cannot
do his job should leave his post instantly.
”
The attack, which prompted an emergency meeting of senior officials and
intelligence chiefs, appeared to have targeted a senior police official,
Brig. Gen. Tariq Mergawi, director of investigations in Cairo’s West Giza
district. Officials said the first two IEDs were detonated within minutes
next to a police post, and a third bomb went off an hour later after
security forces arrived to Cairo University.

“This is in retaliation for the students of Azhar University and Cairo
University who were killed by police and military over the nine months,”
Brotherhood activist Abdul Rahman Ezz said on Facebook.

Officials said the Brotherhood could have conducted the bombings with
help from Islamist students at Cairo University. They cited the discovery of
two bombs at the university’s law faculty on March 20.

“Targeting Cairo University is yet a new piece of evidence to the
meanness, backwardness and bloodiness of terrorism,” presidential candidate
Hamdeen Sabahi, the only challenger to outgoing Defense Minister Abdul Fatah
Sisi, said.

  Cairo University, Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood-led insurgents using Iraq-level IEDs, Maj. Gen. Hani Abdul Latif, West Giza