File Photo: Egyptian special forces. AP
According to a Monday evening statement from the Ministry of Interior, the criminal gang was involved in drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession, extortion, and terrorizing citizens in Assiut’s Sahil Selim area.
The gang was led by Mohamed Mahsoub Ibrahim Ahmed, who was wanted in 44 felony cases, including drug trafficking, murder, illegal weapons possession, armed robbery, arson, and vandalism.
Mahsoub had been sentenced to 191 years in prison, while other members also faced long sentences, with one individual receiving 108 years for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, drug offences, and weapons possession.
The criminals had been hiding in mountainous areas and regularly visiting a fortified hideout in Al-Afadra village, which they had fortified with trenches and bunkers, according to the interior ministry.
In response, police forces, including Central Security Sector units, launched a raid to apprehend the criminals, and the clashes continued for three days, according to Egyptian media outlets.
The gang opened fire using RPGs, F1 grenades, and automatic rifles.
To obstruct the operation, they also detonated gas cylinders to block officers from entering the building.
The ensuing exchange of fire led to the deaths of all eight criminals and the injury of a Central Security Forces officer.
Following the operation, security forces seized a large cache of weapons and narcotics, including RPG launchers, two Grenov machine guns, 73 automatic rifles, a multi-barrel machine gun, 11 pump-action shotguns, 62 locally manufactured firearms, eight F1 grenades, and a significant amount of ammunition.
Egyptian authorities confirmed that legal actions have been taken.
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