The aftermath of an explosion in the Mohandiseen area - Gameat El-Dowal street in Cairo on 26 February 2015 (Photo: Bassam Alzoghby)
Egypt's police say they have arrested a man who allegedly manages social media accounts featuring attacks against police and army personnel. In addition, 75 "suspects", some implicated in violence-related crimes, have been apprehended.
The interior ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page that it arrested Abd El-Rahman El-Zelbany from his home in Alexandria, who it alleges manages the "Revolutionary Punishment" (Al-'iqab Al-Thawri) pages on Facebook and Twitter. It also said it seized his computer and mobile phone.
The social media accounts garnered attention recently when publishing photos of bomb attacks against police and government sites and personnel nationwide, applauding them or claiming responsibility.
In its statement, the interior ministry said El-Zelbany admitted that he manages these pages. It said he also allegedly co-administers 10 other pages that it said "incite violence against state institutions", in addition to "membership" in 30 similar Facebook groups.
Police are currently questioning El-Zelbany.
The ministry also said in its statement that it arrested 75 suspects, including 43 wanted in violence-related cases. It said it conducted "several lawful preemptive security strikes" on 11 March, targeting mid-ranking leaders of the banned Muslim Brotherhood and loyalist groups.
Egypt's government has designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation and launched a crackdown against its leaders and members since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in summer 2013. It arrested hundreds of members and put many on trial on violence-related charges.
The Brotherhood and its loyalists have continued to protest against the current government almost weekly, even though the strength of these demonstrations dwindled over time.
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