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Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
From: Patterns of Global Terrorism. United States Department of State Publication 10321Other Names
The Islamic Group, [IG]Description
An indigenous Egyptian Islamic extremist group active since the late 1970s; appears to be loosely organized with no single readily identifiable operational leader. Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman [Shaykh Umar abd al-Rahman] is the preeminent spiritual leader. Goal is to overthrow the government of President Hosni Mubarak and replace it with an Islamic state.Activities
The most recent claim from Al Gama'at is the attack on tourists at the Luxor tourist facilities in Egypt, where some 65 tourists were killed and 25 were injured. Al Gama'at claimed responsibility for the actions and the bodies of all the terrorists were known Al Gama'at agents.Armed attacks against Egyptian security and other [government] officials, coptic Christians, Western tourists, and Egyptian opponents of Islamic extremism. [1995 omits "Western tourists"] It assassinated the speaker of the Egyptian assembly in October 1990 and launched a series of attacks on tourists in Egypt in 1992. The group wounded the Egyptian Information Minister in an assassination attempt in April 1993. [Al Gama'at claimed responsibility for the attempt in June 1995 to assassinate President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.]
Strength
Not known, but probably several thousand hardcore nembers and another several thousand sympathizers.Location/Area of Operation
Operates mainly in the Al Minya, Asyu't, and Qina Governorates of southern Egypt. It also appears to have support in Cairo, Alexandria, and other urban locations, particularly among unemployed graduates and students.External Aid
Not known. Egyptian Government believes that Iran, Sudan, and Afghan militant Islamic groups support the group.[MILNET: On the morning of November 17, 1997, a group of gunmen attacked tourists at the Luxor pryamid site in Egypt. The attackers killed 65 and 25 others were seriously wounded. The Egyptian government attributed the terrorist act to Al Gama, and this was later confirmed by other sources including forensic identification of the dead terrorists and Al Gama claims.]
Created: 03/26/95
Last Updated: 02/03/97
[MILNET: December, 1997]
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