December 26, 2013 | Quoted by Ariel Ben Solomon, The Jerusalem Post

Sinai Jihadists Likely Behind Tuesday’s Attack in Egypt

The Egyptian Interior Ministry stated on Facebook that initial signs point to a suicide car bomb attack in Mansoura Egypt early Tuesday, which analysts believe was likely perpetrated by jihadists based in Sinai.

While the Brotherhood condemned the attack, the Facebook page of its Freedom and Justice Party blamed Christians for the attack, specifically referring to Christian businessman and politician Naguib Sawiris.

And the pro-government Free Egyptians Party founded by Sawiris blamed the attack on the Brotherhood.

The way the attack was carried out and the size of the explosion is reminiscent of previous attacks by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (sometimes referred to as Ansar Jerusalem), said David Barnett, a research associate at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a contributor to the Long War Journal website.

Barnett, who closely follows the ongoing fighting in Sinai, told The Jerusalem Post that the group has used car bombings in a number of its attacks inside and out of the northern Sinai.

“The attack may be a follow- up to the Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis threat to target those who do not leave the security services. We will only know for certain if they claim responsibility, however,” he said.

“While some may expect an immediate claim of responsibility, in previous attacks Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis waited at least a day or two before taking credit,” Barnett cautioned.

Read the full article here.

Issues:

Egypt