Egyprtian interior ministry rejects use of armed vigilantes in fighting terrorism

Spokesman for the Interior Ministry Hani Abdel-Latif asserted that the recent measures the government has taken in North Sinai will have a positive impact on tightening the noose on terrorists.
In statements to MENA Wednesdy, the spokesman said the decision to evacuate the border area with Gaza Strip will limit the weapon supply to the Takfiri elements and will put an end to the border infiltration.
He expected some terrorist elements to carry out terror operations in the coming stage in retaliation of the new measures on the ground and in the light of cooperation between Sinai residents on one hand and the police and army on the other,
On the reports about forming vigilante militias to fight terrorism, he said the security policies reject any attempts to fight the terrorists through such militias because, he said, such a role is restricted to the security agencies,
According to the spokesman, some 65 Takfiri cells and 115 Ikhwani cells were nabbed , pointing out that 385 explosive changes were deactivated and 118 others blew up since June 30 Revolution till now.
The spokesman also said the police had managed to deal with 5,493 cases of acts of riot, road blocking and attempts to suspend the state institutions.
He added that security agencies managed to seize during that period big quantities of heavy and light weapons including RPGs, mortars, mines, rockets, TNT explosives, explosive vests, detonators, hand grenades in addition to ammunition depots.