Ramifications of a Possibly Armed Muslim Brotherhood :: The Investigative Project on Terrorism
An Egyptian newspaper claims the Muslim Brotherhood may have constituted a large, well-armed wing, with perhaps thousands of operatives, and its purpose is to engage in terrorist operations.The report, published May 27 in Egypt’s Al-Masry Al-Youm, carried the headline, “Why is Security Silent About the Secret Armed Organization of the Brotherhood?” A potential mission for this Muslim Brotherhood armed division would be to send 10,000 trained fighters to south Lebanon (Hezbollah territory) and to Gaza to attack Israel. Author Hussaneyn Kuroum notes there are some Muslim Brotherhood leaders who refute the existence of an armed wing, but the current Secretary General (Guide) Mahdi Akef, has made statements clearly indicating that the organization has such an armed element. The article questions what the Egyptian security services may or may not know about this unit.
