The three-day presidential election confounded those security experts who had predicted terrorist attacks aimed at dissuading voters to turn out. On Monday — the first day of voting — many people woke to the sound of army helicopters overhead, not just in Cairo but in other governorates. More than 400,000 policemen and soldiers had been deployed two days ahead of the poll. During the vote they blocked streets and sections of city blocks close to polling stations. “On Monday the security plan succeeded in securing the electoral process in all the provinces,” Major-General Hani Abdel-Latif told Al-Ahram Weekly on the first day of voting. “There are extensive security campaigns to secure the electoral process throughout all governorates during the course of polling. Monday saw Muslim Brotherhood attempts to disrupt the elections but they were all in vain. We arrested 42 Brotherhood members during the day.” The Ministry of Interior and the army had both released statements on Sunday proclaiming the “combat readiness” and “high morale” of soldiers and police officers tasked with securing polling stations. The statements said the General Directorate of Traffic had a “comprehensive security plan” which featured cars with wireless radios and policemen with bulletproof jackets, automatic weapons and “the highest level of combat training”. Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim stressed the “need for full-force” preparedness throughout Monday. Ensuring citizens voted peacefully, he said, would create “optimism that we can really build a brighter future for Egypt”. General Sedki Sohbi, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, notes the “high morale, manoeuvrability and agility” of soldiers tasked with keeping the peace. Sohbi said that the armed forces were “a shield for the people that believe” in the democratic process. Sobhi made his comments while inspecting units charged with protecting voters. There were some minor skirmishes. On Tuesday one person was injured when small explosive device was detonated in Heliopolis. Three cars were damaged in the blast. At least 10 arrests were made early on Monday after protesters in Alexandria called for a boycott of the poll. Clashes occurred in front of polling stations in Al-Odwa village in Al-Sharqiya governorate when dozens of village residents aimed fireworks at security forces. Police forces dispersed the crowd with tear gas. In Beni Sweif there were clashes between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and those of Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. Security forces securing a polling station in Al-Wasti, Beni Sweif, intervened. Brotherhood supporters fled as the police were trying to arrest them. The Interior Ministry branded attempts to prevent or discourage people from voting as “messages originating from parties hostile to Egypt and Egyptians” who are seeking to “abort the electoral process and strike fear in the hearts of the people”. Mohamed Fathi, a member of Tamarod and of Al-Sisi's presidential campaign, was shot outside his house in Nahia, Giza early Monday. Fathi was carrying documents containing lists of young voters and their polling stations when he was shot, according to Mohamed Hassan, Tamarod coordinator in Giza. The Forensic Authority issued a press statement saying Fathi died from a gunshot to the abdomen. On the same day, a security source said that Fathi's death was criminal and not connected with the election. Before polling Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and Interior Minister Ibrahim inspected units of anti-riot personnel. “I have come to convey to you the gratitude of all the Egyptian people,” Mehleb told the assembled officers. “Egypt appreciates the sacrifices offered by police officers at this critical stage in the fight against terrorism.” He expressed complete confidence in the ability of the police and the army to secure the election. Ibrahim praised the role of the police in “protecting the people and the land”. Police and army personnel have been targeted by militant jihadist groups since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi on 3 July, leaving hundreds dead. Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, long at the forefront of terrorist attacks, has now been joined by three other groups — Ansar Al-Sharia Brigades in Egypt, Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt), and Al-Ziaab Al-Monfareda (Lone Wolves). In an attempt to reassure voters Deputy Interior Minister General Al-Shafei Abu Amer early announced that “deterrent forces” from the army would begin deploying around polling stations two days before the start of the elections. “These forces will be concentrated in restive areas where groups seeking to destabilize security and undermine the democratic process are active.” Explosives experts, Abu Amer added, and advanced bomb detection equipment, would be on hand.
