Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Islamist militias have been targeting police in daily attacks.

Officials said the militias, led by Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, were focusing operations on police and the Central Security Forces. They said Ansar and its offshoots were tracking everybody from new recruits to senior officers.

On April 23, a brigadier general was killed when a bomb exploded under
his car in Cairo. Ahmed Zaki was identified as a commander of the
paramilitary Central Security Forces, deployed against Muslim Brotherhood
protests.

Zaki was said to have been the third senior security officer
assassinated in Cairo in 2014. Officials said Zaki was believed to have been
tracked by Ansar operatives. On April 24, an Ansar offshoot, Ajnad Misr,
claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Ajnad, or Soldiers of Egypt, has called on police officers to resign or
face death. Ajnad Misr, or Soldiers of Egypt, claimed responsibility for
several killings of police officers over the last three months.

Ansar was also said to have been operating in several major cities. The
Interior Ministry said Ansar killed a police lieutenant in Alexandria on
April 23.

Officials said the Interior Ministry has urged measures to protect
security forces, including reinforcing police stations to protect against
bombers. They said police officers were ordered to conceal their professions
and remove all symbols from their vehicles or homes. Officers were also
banned from wearing their uniforms when off-duty.

Ansar and other groups were said to have collected personal information
on many officers. In some cases, the data and even photographs of the
officers and their families were posted on the social media.

The Brotherhood was said to have provided information on police
officers. On April 24, a Brotherhood activist, Ahmed Moghir, praised the
killing of Zaki and warned officers to inspect their cars for bombs.

“The boys are becoming more creative,” Moghir wrote on his Facebook
account. “Instead of torching the policeman’s car, they leave him a gift
under the car that opens once he enters.”

  Ajnad Misr, Ansar Beit Maqdis, Central Security Forces, Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood betraying police officials to Islamist assassins