Posted on 02/28/2004 9:02:25 PM PST by nuconvert
Security Forces Attack Southern Egyptian Town; Some Hostages Feared Dead
Feb 28, 2004
The Associated Press
ASSIUT, Egypt (AP) - Egyptian security forces on Saturday attacked gunmen who had taken an estimated 80 people hostage in a southern Egyptian town. Some of the captives were feared dead. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen set fire to 13 houses before many escaped into other areas of Nakhilah, a town in southern Egypt on the Nile River. A Ministry of Interior statement said police arrested 15 people and seized some weapons and large quantities of drugs in the raid.
Security forces began the attack to counter heavy gunfire from the gunmen. The troops fired tear gas and rocket-propelled grenades at mud buildings on the outskirts of town.
Eight structures collapsed from the shooting, and police fear that some hostages may have been killed.
Izzat Mohammed Hamid, who is leading the band of about 50 gunmen, told The Associated Press on Friday that his men were holding 500 civilians hostage, but police put the figure at 80.
Speaking to the AP after security forces began their assault Saturday, Hamid said fire was coming from all directions and accused security forces of targeting houses with people in them.
Police said the gunmen set fire to houses in the village to halt the advance of the security forces.
The band seized the hostages during a shootout Friday with authorities who had been trying to arrest fugitives wanted for drug trafficking and other crimes. Hamid had threatened to kill the hostages if police attempted a rescue.
Nakhilah, about 200 miles south of Cairo, has long been considered a center of illicit trade in arms and drugs.
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