DATE=  10/30/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221928

TITLE=EGYPT/TERROR (L)

BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  TWO EGYPTIAN BROTHERS HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR A 

TERRORIST ATTACK IN CAIRO LAST MONTH THAT LEFT NINE GERMAN 

TOURISTS AND THEIR EGYPTIAN BUS DRIVER DEAD.  DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN 

CAIRO HAS DETAILS OF THURSDAY'S RULING BY AN EGYPTIAN MILITARY 

TRIBUNAL.



TEXT:  THE TWO BROTHERS, SABR AND MAHMOUD ABU AL-ELAA, ADMITTED 

THEY CARRIED OUT THE SEPTEMBER 18TH ATTACK, PLEADING GUILTY TO 

CHARGES OF PREMEDITATED MURDER.  THEIR CONVICTION AND THE DEATH 

SENTENCES WERE NEVER REALLY IN DOUBT.



IT WAS THE WORST TERRORIST INCIDENT IN CAIRO IN MORE THAN 

18-MONTHS.



A GROUP OF GERMAN TOURISTS WERE BOARDING THEIR BUS OUTSIDE THE 

EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WHEN THE TWO BROTHERS 

ATTACKED, HURLING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS (FIRE BOMBS) BEFORE OPENING 

FIRE WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.



SECURITY FORCES CAPTURED THE PAIR AFTER A 30-MINUTE GUN BATTLE 

THAT CAUSED PANDEMONIUM IN CAIRO'S BUSIEST SQUARE.  SEVEN OTHER 

EGYPTIANS WERE ARRESTED LATER, AND CHARGED WITH COMPLICITY IN THE

ATTACK.  SIX OF THEM WERE FOUND GUILTY THURSDAY AND GIVEN PRISON 

SENTENCES RANGING FROM ONE TO 10 YEARS.  THE SEVENTH MAN WAS 

ACQUITTED.



EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED THE ELAA BROTHERS 

WERE LINKED TO ANY OF THE ISLAMIST EXTREMIST GROUPS THAT HAVE 

BEEN WAGING A LOW-LEVEL INSURGENCY HERE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.



BUT IN COURT TESTIMONY, THE ACCUSED MADE CLEAR THEIR SYMPATHY FOR

THE INSURGENTS.  THE BANNED "ISLAMIC GROUPING" ISSUED A 

COMMUNIQUE PRAISING THE ATTACK, AND WARNING TOURISTS TO STAY AWAY

FROM EGYPT.



FOR SABR ABU AL-ELAA, IT WAS THE SECOND CONVICTION FOR A 

TERRORIST OFFENSE.  IN 1993 HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF INVOLVEMENT IN

THE MURDER OF A U-S CITIZEN AND TWO FRENCHMEN AT A CAIRO HOTEL.  

THE COURT RULED THEN HE WAS MENTALLY DERANGED, AND ORDERED HIM 

CONFINED IN AN ASYLUM.  BUT IT HAS SINCE BEEN REVEALED MR. ELAA 

OR A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY BRIBED A COURT PSYCHIATRIST TO CERTIFY 

HIS CONDITION SO HE COULD AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY.



EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SAY MR. ELAA ESCAPED FROM THE ASYLUM JUST DAYS

BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 18TH ATTACK.   (SIGNED) 



NEB/DBR/PCF/RAE



30-Oct-97 8:21 AM EST (1321 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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