MOBILE DEVICES
Free Headline Alerts     
Worldwide Web WorldTribune.com

  breaking... 


Thursday, February 25, 2010     GET REAL

'Fundamentalist' drug addict arrested for attack on Cairo synagogue

CAIRO — Egypt has identified a Muslim fundamentalist as the attacker of a synagogue in Cairo.   

The Egyptian Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of a 49-year-old Muslim as the chief suspect in an attempted bombing of a Jewish house of worship in Cairo. They said the suspect, identified as Jamal Hussein Ahmed, has been a drug addict linked to a series of arsons of video stores in Cairo.

The details of Ahmed and his arrest were regarded as highly unusual for Egyptian authorities. Diplomatic sources said the regime of President Hosni Mubarak was urged by Jewish groups in the West to solve the case rapidly to avoid a halt in tourism to Egypt, the largest earner of foreign revenue for the Arab state.


Also In This Edition


"He was linked to fundamentalist elements since 1984 but was never prosecuted," a ministry official said.

Officials said authorities assess that Ahmed, who resides in a southern Cairo neighborhood, appeared to have acted alone in the Feb. 21 attack on the synagogue. Ahmed was accused of throwing a bag that exploded toward the house of worship in the center of Cairo. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

The Interior Ministry said Ahmed was identified by traces of the explosive device found when he was arrested on Feb. 24. Ahmed was said to have been captured as he was heading to the U.S. embassy to request political asylum.

"He has suffered from years of drug addiction and was sentenced to prison for drug trafficking," the ministry said on Feb. 24.

The ministry statement said Ahmed sought treatment at a state psychiatric clinic in 1991. When he was unable to quit drugs, Ahmed's family thew him out of the house.

Security sources said Ahmed was identified by the staff of a hotel. Ahmed was said to have hurled the explosive device from the balcony of the Hotel Panorama in downtown Cairo.

Ahmed was expected to undergo trial in a state security court, the sources said. They said Ahmed would be charged with endangering Egyptian interests.



About Us     l    Contact Us     l    Geostrategy-Direct.com     l    East-Asia-Intel.com
Copyright © 2010    East West Services, Inc.    All rights reserved.