In a strongly sectarian statement and with chilling similarities to the initial stages of the Syria conflict, an Al-Qaeda-inspired group has been established in Egypt in opposition to protests and military action which brought about the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood regime.
A group calling itself ”Ansar Al-Sharia in the Land of Kinaanah (Egypt)” published a launch statement on an Al-Qaeda online forum, in which it condemned the Egyptian military’s actions, Christians and “herds of criminals and thugs”.
Other groups have used the same name, including militant organisations in Yemen and Libya. In Egypt, a group bearing the name was established in late 2012. The group is run mainly by former members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), an extremist organization headed by Ayman al-Zawahiri that merged with Al-Qaeda.
It is a likely that the group is the same one which formed in late 2012, expressing its support for “the mujaheddin and their movements and groups in the different lands of the Muslims.”
The organisation, which released its statement just hours ago, said:
“All the sects and tendencies have for a long time been gathering weapons and storing them, until churches became fortresses and weapons depots, and all declare their preparations to end any features in Egypt, and with the force of weapons.”
A link to an electronic version of the statement came with a warning to viewers:
Do NOT directly click any download link as it is possible that in this way you CAN be tracked by the Kuffaar and Murtaddeen
The sectarian nature of the statement uses much the same terminology as those made by foreign-backed insurgents in Syria, who have increased their targeting of religious minorities in recent weeks.
Following widespread protests and an overthrow of the Morsi regime by the Egyptian military, Islamist extremists have attacked civilians, public gatherings and military checkpoints.
Commentators suggest that concerns among high-ranking military officials reached a tipping point when the former head of state attended a rally which called for war on the Syrian state.
Recently, a video circulating on social media shows an incident which brings to mind footage of sectarian atrocities by militants in Syria.
The footage, purportedly recorded in Alexandria, shows a group of militants on the roof of a building attempting to capture a number of teenagers. Attempts by the boys to evade the militants, who are carrying the black flag synonymous with Al-Qaeda, are futile. The militants climb onto the water tank and proceed to push the unarmed boys off the platform, slamming onto the rooftop below.