Egypt Security institutions 'red line'

The Egyptian Minister of the Interior, General Mansour el-Essawi, said in a television interview on Monday that the Ministry of Interior and police stations across the country are a “red line” that cannot be breached. He announced that attacks on Egypt’s security bodies will not be tolerated, and perpetrators will be detained and brought to justice. El-Essawi warned that security forces would use firearms to restore law and order if Egyptians are breaking the law. He has told senior officers at the Ministry of Interior that they have the right to use weapons to defend themselves, the Ministry of Interior, public properties and police stations. He considers an attack on any of these institutions to represent a threat to national security. However, El-Essawi insisted that security forces will use restraint when dealing with peaceful protests in the future, as the use of firearms and tear gas has now been banned.