In completion of the declared efforts to chasing terrorist hideouts as terrorist elements try to shake the stability of the country, and in the light of the information received by the national security sector that a number of terrorist elements were hiding at 135K Al-Wahat road in Giza governorate, and in the light of using the place for training to carry out terrorist operations, taking advantage of the rugged nature of the desert that makes them move freely.

In the light of this information, the forces were prepared to carry out two missions from the two governorates of Giza and Fayyoum to raiding this area. However, when the first mission approached the whereabouts of the terrorist elements, the terrorists realized that the forces are approaching them and they started targeting them using heavy weapons from all sides. The police forces have exchanged fire with the terrorist elements for hours, leaving 16 policemen dead (11 officers, 4 conscripts, 1 sergeant) and 13 others injured including 4 officers and 9 conscripts and a search is underway for one missing police officer from Giza Security Directorate.

Later on, the adjacent areas of the scene of the events were combed by supporting forces, and 15 terrorist elements were killed and injured where some of them were evacuated from the scene by fugitives, and combing and chasing operations are still ongoing.

The Interior Ministry, while extending condolences to its brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives in defense of the homeland and the citizens, stresses that such terrorist crimes will not sap the determination of the Egyptian policemen for uprooting terrorism and defending our cherished nation.

Moreover, the Interior Ministry calls upon different media outlets to be accurate before publishing any security-related information, urging them to rely only on the official sources according to the applicable standards in this regard. They should also give the bodies concerned the opportunity to verify information, particularly in view of the developments of the security confrontations. Otherwise, this would negatively affect the confrontation operations and the morale of the forces.

This statement was issued immediately after the martyrs and injured were evacuated.

Interior Ministry Facebook

Saturday, October 21, 2017