The military-backed interim Egyptian government has declared on Wednesday the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group after blaming it for a deadly attack on a police HQ earlier this week that killed 16 people.
The group, whose candidate Mohamed Morsi won the presidential elections last year before being deposed by the military on July 3rd, had already been outlawed.
Deputy Prime Minister Hossam Eissa has made the statement on Wednesday, saying those who belonged to the group, financed it or promoted its activities would face punishment.
He said the decision was in response to Tuesday’s suicide bombing of a police HQ in HQ in Egypt’s Nile Delta city of Mansoura in Dakahlia province, which killed 16 people and wounded more than 100.
“Egypt was horrified from north to south by the hideous crime committed by the Muslim Brotherhood group,” Mr Eissa said.
“This was in context of dangerous escalation to violence against Egypt and Egyptians and a clear declaration by the Muslim Brotherhood group that it still knows nothing but violence.
“It’s not possible for Egypt the state nor Egypt the people to submit to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorism.”
The move gives the authorities the power to charge any member of deposed President Mohamed Morsi’s movement with membership of a terrorist organization, marking an escalation in the army-backed government’s crackdown on the group.
Following Tuesday’s attack, Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi described the Brotherhood as a terrorist group, though Wednesday’s move formalizes the step.
It is worth to note that the Brotherhood had condemned the bomb attack, responsibility for which was claimed by an al-Qaida inspired group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis.
