AL-ARISH, Egypt , 10 May 2006— Egyptian security forces have killed the suspected mastermind behind last month’s Dahab attacks. Nasser Khamis El-Mallahi, leader of the Tawheed wal Jihad (Monotheism and Holy War) group, was shot dead, while the group’s No. 2, Abdallah Alyan Abu Jarair, was captured. Egyptian forces raided the Mohsen El-Refaie Ranch, south of Al-Arish, which lies on the border between Egypt and Gaza, said the commander of North Sinai security police, Lt. Gen. Essam El-Sheikh. “This is a major blow to the terrorist group,” Essam said.
A heavy exchange of gunfire soon followed, resulting in Mallahi’s death, and Abu Jarair’s failed attempt to flee. Automatic rifles, ammunition and hand grenades were found on Mallahi and Jarair after the fight. Egyptian forces had been sweeping through Sinai in an effort to locate the two wanted men, but the challenge proved futile before the tip. Hundreds of security officers were seen celebrating the success in front of the security police headquarters later yesterday.
The killing of the militant group leader came a day after Israel warned its citizens to stay away from the Sinai, a popular destination with Israeli tourists, because of an “increased threat of kidnapping of Israeli citizens on the Sinai coast.” Essam said security forces surrounded the olive grove in El-Karama district, south of El-Arish, after receiving a tip that Mallahi and his accomplice were hiding there. Bedouin scouts had also reported that tracks of two suspects led into the grove.
Both men, whose names appear on a list of 25 wanted suspects issued by Sinai police were said to be responsible for attacks on Sinai’s tourist packed Red Sea coast. Mallahi took over the leadership of the Islamist group after its previous leader Khaled Mussaed was killed by police in 2005.
