CAIRO: Egyptian state security prosecutors are questioning the makers of a commercial for Vodafone Egypt after a little-known rap singer alleged the ad included coded signals for bomb attacks by the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Egyptian unit of Vodafone, the world’s biggest mobile operator by revenue, rejected the suggestions.

In a statement sent to Reuters on Thursday, it said the ad posted on YouTube and social media channels and featuring a well-known puppet character was meant to promote a special offer for customers to re-activate their old SIM cards and had no hidden meaning.

Any other explanations “are pure fiction and personal opinions” for which the company is not responsible, it added, suggesting it might take legal action “against whomever (is) trying to distort the company’s reputation.” The preliminary investigation was launched following a complaint by 25 year-old rapper Ahmed Spider, security and judiciary sources said.

Spider told the private Al-Tahrir TV channel in an interview that baubles on a Christmas tree featured in the commercial represented bombs.

He said the tree’s branches mimicked the four-finger gesture used to symbolize the raid by security forces on Aug. 14 last year that killed hundreds of supporters of ousted President Muhammad Mursi who were camped out in Cairo.

Security sources said the singer was known to be a supporter of the army. The ad shows Egyptian puppet character Abla Fahita and her daughter Karkoura desperately searching for her deceased father’s SIM card.