Skip to main content

IS threat led to closure of Western embassies in Egypt

The Islamic State has sent Egyptian members back to Egypt to plan attacks against foreign interests in the country, prompting the United Kingdom and Canada to close their embassies.
An armed police officer is deployed in front of the Canadian embassy in Cairo December 9, 2014. Canada's embassy in Cairo was closed on Monday until further notice because of security concerns, an official answering its emergency telephone line said, the second diplomatic mission to shut its doors this week.  REUTERS /Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR4H9SN

EL-ARISH, Egypt — The United Kingdom reopened its embassy in Cairo today, more than a week after it, along with Canada, closed its mission. The decision by the United Kingdom and Canada to close their embassies — on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, respectively — raised many questions in Cairo regarding the reasons behind these measures. The UK Foreign Office still warns that there is "heightened threat of terrorist attacks globally against UK interests and British nationals from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria," and specifically names Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis in the Sinai Peninsula as a threat.

The Egyptian media considered the closing of the embassies to be part of a conspiracy. Satellite TV channels as well as newspapers, both owned by the government and pro-regime businessmen, allowed what they referred to as experts to state that the closing of the embassies was a conspiracy to cause Egypt to fall.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.