The Egyptian Ministry of Interior said on Wednesday that six members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested at a ranch in Beheira governorate owned by detained politician and former presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Futouh. The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the suspects, who were wanted in several terrorism-related cases, were found in possession of two rifles. Security forces are still searching for two other Brotherhood members who gave refuge to the six fugitives at the ranch on Abul-Fotouh's orders, according to the statement. Abul-Fotouh, who is also the head of the Strong Egypt Party, was arrested last week for plotting with members of the Brotherhood to destabilise the country ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. On Tuesday, a Cairo criminal court placed Abul-Fotouh on the terrorism list for his connection to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was designated a terrorist group in 2013. Abul-Fotouh was arrested at his home in New Cairo hours after he returned from a visit to London, where he gave an interview to the Qatari-based Al-Jazeera channel criticising government policies. The interior ministry says Abul-Fotouh held secret meetings with leaders of the international Muslim Brotherhood organisation in London earlier this month to carry out a plot to spark unrest and instability in the country. Shortly after his arrest, the High State Security Prosecution ordered Abul-Fotouh's detention for 15 days pending investigations into charges including "publishing and broadcasting false news that harms national interests" and leading an illegal group that aims to topple the regime and disrupt public order.
