Egypt reinforces security ahead of Christmas season
The Egyptian army and police are out in force across the country to secure churches and mosques that have been targeted with violence in the past.
CAIRO — Egyptian security forces were heavily deployed in Cairo and other governorates over the past few days in a campaign to protect churches, some mosques and vital economic facilities ahead of the New Year and Christmas celebrations.
The army’s rapid deployment forces assisted the internal security forces in the mission. This is not the first time the Egyptian army has been deployed to provide protection. These forces were previously assigned to protect religious establishments in Sinai.
The parliamentary National Defense and Security Committee approved the government's request in August 2016 to extend the law allowing armed forces to assist law enforcement agencies in protecting government and public facilities for a period of five years, ending August 2021.
A media official with the Ministry of Interior told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the security forces are currently preparing to protect economic facilities and churches in the governorates, especially those that have been previously targeted by extremists.
