A supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi takes part in a protest against the military near Rabaa al-Adaweya square in Cairo on October 4, 2013. (File Image)
Cairo:
The Egyptian government formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday as a terrorist organisation, accusing it of carrying out a suicide bomb attack on a police station that killed 16 people.
The move gives the authorities the power to charge any member of deposed President Mohamed Mursi's movement with membership of a terrorist organisation, marking an escalation in the army-backed government's crackdown on the group.
Following Tuesday's attack, Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi described the Brotherhood as a terrorist group, though Wednesday's move formalises the step.
"All of Egypt... was terrified by the ugly crime that the Muslim Brotherhood group committed by blowing up the building of the Dakahlyia security directorate," an emailed statement from the cabinet office said.
"The cabinet decided to declare the Muslim Brotherhood group a terrorist organisation."
The Brotherhood condemned the bomb attack, responsibility for which was claimed by a group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis.
The move gives the authorities the power to charge any member of deposed President Mohamed Mursi's movement with membership of a terrorist organisation, marking an escalation in the army-backed government's crackdown on the group.
Following Tuesday's attack, Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi described the Brotherhood as a terrorist group, though Wednesday's move formalises the step.
"All of Egypt... was terrified by the ugly crime that the Muslim Brotherhood group committed by blowing up the building of the Dakahlyia security directorate," an emailed statement from the cabinet office said.
"The cabinet decided to declare the Muslim Brotherhood group a terrorist organisation."
The Brotherhood condemned the bomb attack, responsibility for which was claimed by a group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis.
© Thomson Reuters 2013
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