From: Patterns of Global Terrorism, 2000. United States
Department of State, April 2001.
Egyptian Islamic Jihad
Islamic Jihad
Jihad Group
Description
Egyptian Islamic extremist group active since the late
1970s. Close partner of Bin Ladin's al-Qaida organization. Suffered setbacks as
a result of numerous arrests of operatives worldwide, most recently in Lebanon
and Yemen. Primary goals are to overthrow the Egyptian Government and replace it
with an Islamic state and attack US and Israeli interests in Egypt and abroad.
Activities
Specializes in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian
Government personnel, including cabinet ministers, and car-bombings against
official US and Egyptian facilities. The original Jihad was responsible for the
assassination in 1981 of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Claimed responsibility
for the attempted assassinations of Interior Minister Hassan al-Alfi in August
1993 and Prime Minister Atef Sedky in November 1993. Has not conducted an attack
inside Egypt since 1993 and has never targeted foreign tourists there.
Responsible for Egyptian Embassy bombing in Islamabad in 1995; in 1998, planned
attack against US Embassy in Albania was thwarted.
Strength
Not known but probably has several hundred hard-core
members.
Location/Area of Operation
Operates in the Cairo area. Has a
network outside Egypt, including Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Lebanon,
and the United Kingdom.
External Aid
Not known. The Egyptian Government claims that both
Iran and Bin Ladin support the Jihad. Also may obtain some funding through
various Islamic nongovernmental organizations, cover businesses, and criminal
acts.