![A picture taken on October 21st shows an Egyptian policeman standing guard in the new city of el-Alamien, west of Alexandria. Egyptian forces made a series of terror-related arrests in the Alexandria area on Monday (December 18th). [Khaled Desouki/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2017/12/19/10812-Egypt-police-alexandria-700_496.webp)
Egyptian forces on Monday (December 18th) staged a series of raids targeting terrorist hideouts in Qaliubiya, Alexandria and al-Wadi al-Gadid governorates, killing five extremists and arresting 11 others.
The terror elements had been planning a series of attacks on vital facilities and Christian places of worship, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Some had received financial support from extremist fugitives in North Sinai to finance their operations, the ministry said, adding that it had identified those elements and located their hideouts.
One group had been hiding inside a warehouse in an under-construction building in plot No. 17, 3rd Familial District, al-Obour city, Qaliubiya governorate.
"A security force was dispatched to target that hideout," the ministry said. "As soon as it arrived, it was heavily fired at, prompting it to return fire and kill five elements, who have not yet been identified."
The security forces seized three machine guns and a quantity of ammunition of various calibres, along with items the group had been using for subsistence, the ministry said.
"We also have identified the other elements that took part in planning the terrorist plot, and located their hideouts in Qaliubiya and Alexandria," it said, making 10 arrests and seizing pistols and knives from the detainees.
Raid on training camp
Security forces also raided a farm in al-Wadi al-Gadid that terror elements had used as a hideout and for planning attacks and conducting firearms training.
The person in charge of the farm, Ahmed Sami Mohammed al-Saghir, was identified and arrested.
The ministry said it is determined to continue to confront terror plots that seek to undermine Egypt's stability and security, and will take all necessary legal actions to bring those planning or carrying out acts of terrorism to justice.
The raids were part of a wider plan that aims to secure churches during the Christmas celebrations, Nasser Military Academy advisor Maj. Gen. Tharwat al-Nusairi told Al-Mashareq.
"Security agencies have been monitoring the movements of those elements for a long time, and found out they had contacts with 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' (ISIS) leaders in North Sinai," he said. "Those elements planned to target a number of churches during Egyptians’ celebrations of Christmas."
"Egypt’s political leadership is determined to fully secure Christian celebrations, and already has instructed the security agencies to draw up careful plans to discover plots before they are implemented," al-Nusairi said.
