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Egypt: Al-Jazeera journalists arrested in Cairo | Egypt: Al-Jazeera journalists arrested in Cairo |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Egyptian police have arrested a team of journalists working for the broadcaster Al-Jazeera in the capital, Cairo. | Egyptian police have arrested a team of journalists working for the broadcaster Al-Jazeera in the capital, Cairo. |
They include the TV network's Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and former BBC correspondent Peter Greste. | They include the TV network's Cairo bureau chief Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and former BBC correspondent Peter Greste. |
The interior ministry said the journalists had held illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist group last week. | The interior ministry said the journalists had held illegal meetings with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist group last week. |
There has been a crackdown on the Islamist movement since the army ousted President Mohammed Morsi in July. | There has been a crackdown on the Islamist movement since the army ousted President Mohammed Morsi in July. |
Since then, more than 1,000 pro-Morsi protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces, and thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested, including the majority of its leadership. | Since then, more than 1,000 pro-Morsi protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces, and thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested, including the majority of its leadership. |
A court will hear a case to disband the Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), on 15 February. | A court will hear a case to disband the Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), on 15 February. |
'Damaging' | 'Damaging' |
The journalists, who work for Al-Jazeera English, are understood to have been detained late on Sunday night. | The journalists, who work for Al-Jazeera English, are understood to have been detained late on Sunday night. |
They are Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, who holds Canadian nationality, Peter Greste, an Australian, producer Baher Mohamed and Egyptian cameraman Mohamed Fawzy, who is said to have been arrested at home. | They are Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, who holds Canadian nationality, Peter Greste, an Australian, producer Baher Mohamed and Egyptian cameraman Mohamed Fawzy, who is said to have been arrested at home. |
Al-Jazeera, which is based in Qatar, has demanded their immediate release. | |
The interior ministry said in a statement that cameras, recordings and other material had been seized from rooms at a hotel in Cairo. | The interior ministry said in a statement that cameras, recordings and other material had been seized from rooms at a hotel in Cairo. |
It accused the journalists of broadcasting news that were "damaging to national security". | It accused the journalists of broadcasting news that were "damaging to national security". |
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Cairo says Egypt's military backed government has long accused Al-Jazeera of bias, because Qatar gave financial support to the government of Mr Morsi. | |
Observers say Egypt's media environment has been highly charged since Mr Morsi's overthrow. | Observers say Egypt's media environment has been highly charged since Mr Morsi's overthrow. |
Several Islamist channels were closed down immediately after the military intervention in the summer. Al-Jazeera's Egyptian station Mubashir Misr was shut down in September. | Several Islamist channels were closed down immediately after the military intervention in the summer. Al-Jazeera's Egyptian station Mubashir Misr was shut down in September. |
The channel previously had its Cairo offices raided, equipment seized, and staff detained. Two of its staff - journalist Abdullah al-Shami and cameraman Mohammad Badr - arrested in July and August remain in detention, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. | |
The latest arrests come after deadly clashes between police and Muslim Brotherhood supporters across Egypt. | The latest arrests come after deadly clashes between police and Muslim Brotherhood supporters across Egypt. |
On Friday, three people were killed - in Cairo, southern Minya province and the Nile Delta - during the violence. | On Friday, three people were killed - in Cairo, southern Minya province and the Nile Delta - during the violence. |
Security forces detained some 265 Muslim Brotherhood supporters, officials said. | Security forces detained some 265 Muslim Brotherhood supporters, officials said. |
The Brotherhood was formally designated a terrorist group after the 24 December suicide bombing of a police headquarters in Nile Delta. | The Brotherhood was formally designated a terrorist group after the 24 December suicide bombing of a police headquarters in Nile Delta. |
The government accused the movement of being behind the attack - a charge it strongly denied. | The government accused the movement of being behind the attack - a charge it strongly denied. |
US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier called his Egyptian counterpart to express concern about the recent waves of arrests and called for an "inclusive political process". | US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier called his Egyptian counterpart to express concern about the recent waves of arrests and called for an "inclusive political process". |