Egypt Police Arrest Senior Brotherhood Leader
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Egyptian authorities detained senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam el-Arian, the latest arrest in a government crackdown against the Islamist movement, an Interior Ministry source stated on Wednesday.
Arian, the deputy leader of the Brotherhood-linked Freedom and Justice party, was taken into custody from a residence in New Cairo where he had been in hiding.
"Yes, he's been arrested and details will soon be released," the source told Reuters.
The state news agency MENA said Arian was arrested in New Cairo but gave no further details.
Local media circulated a photograph of what they described as the moment he was arrested, showing a smiling Arian standing next to a bed with two packed duffle bags.
Many Brotherhood leaders have been detained and charged with inciting violence since the army, prompted by mass protests, deposed president Mohamed Mursi on July 3.
At least 1,000 people, including security forces, died in the violence that followed Mursi's removal.
An Egyptian court in September banned the Brotherhood group and seized their funds in an attempt to end the movement, which the government accuses of inciting violence and terrorism.
