Muslim Brotherhood denies forming military wing, reaffirms peaceful approach

The Muslim Brotherhood has denied reports they have formed a military wing.

In statements to the Anadolu news agency, senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), Mohamed Ali Beshr said: “We have not formed any military wings against the police and army as alleged; we will not renounce our peaceful approach.”

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday the arrest of a “cell” of five individuals in the Beni Suef governorate which it claimed belonged to a military wing affiliated with the MB.

A group of masked men possessing firearms and riding two motorcycles fired heavily at a police checkpoint in Beni Suef on January 23 leading to the death of five recruits and wounding two.

“The Muslim Brotherhood condemns violence and terrorism in all its shapes and forms because they constitute a threat to the stability of our nation and disturb the peace,” Beshr said.

“Whatever happens, we will not deviate from our peaceful approach. All allegations of the MB’s involvement in violent activities are false and represent part of the media war against the MB.”