Major boost for Egypt anti-terror campaign

Ashmawi, captured in Libya, is dubbed Egypt’s Bin Laden for links with terror groups

ANALYSIS

The capture of notorious Egyptian militant Hesham Ashmawi this week in Libya has dealt a big blow to terrorist groups in both countries, experts said.

Ashmawi, an ex-Egyptian army officer wanted for masterminding a string of deadly attacks, was captured by the Libyan forces Monday in the eastern city of Derna.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sissi yesterday said Libya should hand over Ashmawi to Egypt, to bring him to account for “betraying” the army oath.

“His arrest is a landmark [development] in the fight against terrorism in the two countries in view of his key role in the terrorist operations over the past five years,” Hamdy Nasr, a security expert told Gulf News.

“Ashmawi is a terrorist leader, acted as a link between terrorist groups in Sinai and Libya as well as their financiers and providers of weapons. Investigations with him will lead to crucial said.

“He is not less dangerous than Osama Bin Laden,” he added.

Ashmawi, 40, was dismissed from the Egyptian army in 2011 for embracing radical ideas. He then travelled to Syria via Turkey before returning to Sinai where he joined Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, a terrorist group that in 2014 swore allegiance to Daesh.

In 2015, Ashmawi broke away from Daesh and sneaked into Libya where he established Al Murabteen, an Al Qaida affiliate. He has been involved in deadly attacks against Egyptian security forces and minority Christians since the army’s 2013 overthrow of Islamist president Mohammad Mursi. These include a failed attempt in September 2013 to assassinate Egypt’s interior minister Mohammad Ebrahim and a 2015 car bombing that killed Egypt’s then chief prosecutor Hesham Barakat. He is also believed to be the mastermind of last year’s attack on a bus carrying Copts to a monastery in south Egypt, killing 29 people.

Cairo has not said if it will ask Libya to hand over Ashmawi. The self-styled Libyan National Army, led by military strongman Khalifa Haftar, has hinted at Egyptian participation in interrogation of Ashmawi. “His crimes have hit Egypt and Libya alike,” said Ahmad Al Mesmari, a spokesman for pro-Haftar forces. information,” Nasr