CAIRO — The Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced July 23 that it has “arrested a Muslim Brotherhood cell in Alexandria governorate, around 200 kilometers (124 miles) to the north of Cairo. The cell was spreading lies and rumors about the Egyptian regime, with the Egyptian Senate elections just around the corner, in August.”

Al-Monitor received a copy of the Ministry of Interior’s statement, which stated, “The National Security Agency [formerly the State Security] received information showing that several Muslim Brotherhood leaders who fled Egypt gave orders to Brotherhood members in Egypt to implement a Brotherhood plan.”

It continued, “The plan included spreading rumors and hubbub among citizens coinciding with the upcoming [Senate] elections by producing fabricated reports and media programs that include false information about the internal situation and the political leadership.”

On July 4, the National Elections Commission announced the date of holding the Senate elections on Aug. 11-12, six years after the dissolution of the Shura Council. The Ministry of Interior said in its statement that the Muslim Brotherhood cell wanted to spread rumors to target these elections.