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Egypt arrests 13 in plot to bomb Suez Canal; drafts anti-terrorism bill against journalists

It is the government's latest attack on the Muslim Brotherhood.

By Ed Adamczyk
The USS John F. Kennedy approaches the Japan-Egypt Friendship Bridge during transit of the Suez Canal. Photo courtesy of US NAVY/ Bill Vonseggern/UPI.
The USS John F. Kennedy approaches the Japan-Egypt Friendship Bridge during transit of the Suez Canal. Photo courtesy of US NAVY/ Bill Vonseggern/UPI. | License Photo

CAIRO, July 6 (UPI) -- Egypt arrested 13 Muslim Brotherhood members Monday, suspected of installing explosives around the Suez Canal to disrupt shipping.

The canal is the prime maritime shipping route between Asia and Europe and an important source of hard currency for Egypt. Security sources said the group of 13 includes an employee of the Suez Canal authority. Prosecutors contend they planted bombs on beaches adjoining the canal, and in sanitation and electrical facilities along the 120-mile-long route.

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The government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, a group supportive of former President Mohammad Morsi since Morsi was ousted from power in 2013. Egypt regards the Muslim Brotherhood in the same category as the Islamic State and other Islamist militant groups intent on disrupting peace, as well as government policies and functions.

The announcement of the arrests comes the same day the government declared harsh new measures against journalists in a cabinet draft anti-terrorism bill threatening jail terms for journalists who contradict the government line on matters which include contradicting official death tolls when reporting militant attacks.

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