Five people affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested on Friday, announced the interior ministry in a statement, on suspicion of planning to incite a riot after Friday prayers in response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to allocate Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Yasser al-Omda, a fugitive member of the Muslim Brotherhood residing in Turkey, posted a video on the internet calling for violent protests against Trump’s widely-criticized move.
According to the statement, Omda created a group on social media named ‘Ghalaba’ (Poor People), and through it instructed protesters to use cement balls loaded with nails to attack Egyptian security forces.
Fifty of these handmade weapons were found in the possession of the five arrested suspects, said the statement.
The five suspects sought to mobilize the large number of worshippers who would be on the streets after Friday prayers, stated the interior ministry.
Legal measures were enforced to avoid a potential riot and prosecutors took over the investigation.
The interior ministry warned citizens against engaging in chaos and violence.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
