DATE= 10/30/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-221928 TITLE=EGYPT/TERROR (L) BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TWO EGYPTIAN BROTHERS HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR A TERRORIST ATTACK IN CAIRO LAST MONTH THAT LEFT NINE GERMAN TOURISTS AND THEIR EGYPTIAN BUS DRIVER DEAD. DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN CAIRO HAS DETAILS OF THURSDAY'S RULING BY AN EGYPTIAN MILITARY TRIBUNAL. TEXT: THE TWO BROTHERS, SABR AND MAHMOUD ABU AL-ELAA, ADMITTED THEY CARRIED OUT THE SEPTEMBER 18TH ATTACK, PLEADING GUILTY TO CHARGES OF PREMEDITATED MURDER. THEIR CONVICTION AND THE DEATH SENTENCES WERE NEVER REALLY IN DOUBT. IT WAS THE WORST TERRORIST INCIDENT IN CAIRO IN MORE THAN 18-MONTHS. A GROUP OF GERMAN TOURISTS WERE BOARDING THEIR BUS OUTSIDE THE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WHEN THE TWO BROTHERS ATTACKED, HURLING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS (FIRE BOMBS) BEFORE OPENING FIRE WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. SECURITY FORCES CAPTURED THE PAIR AFTER A 30-MINUTE GUN BATTLE THAT CAUSED PANDEMONIUM IN CAIRO'S BUSIEST SQUARE. SEVEN OTHER EGYPTIANS WERE ARRESTED LATER, AND CHARGED WITH COMPLICITY IN THE ATTACK. SIX OF THEM WERE FOUND GUILTY THURSDAY AND GIVEN PRISON SENTENCES RANGING FROM ONE TO 10 YEARS. THE SEVENTH MAN WAS ACQUITTED. EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED THE ELAA BROTHERS WERE LINKED TO ANY OF THE ISLAMIST EXTREMIST GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN WAGING A LOW-LEVEL INSURGENCY HERE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. BUT IN COURT TESTIMONY, THE ACCUSED MADE CLEAR THEIR SYMPATHY FOR THE INSURGENTS. THE BANNED "ISLAMIC GROUPING" ISSUED A COMMUNIQUE PRAISING THE ATTACK, AND WARNING TOURISTS TO STAY AWAY FROM EGYPT. FOR SABR ABU AL-ELAA, IT WAS THE SECOND CONVICTION FOR A TERRORIST OFFENSE. IN 1993 HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDER OF A U-S CITIZEN AND TWO FRENCHMEN AT A CAIRO HOTEL. THE COURT RULED THEN HE WAS MENTALLY DERANGED, AND ORDERED HIM CONFINED IN AN ASYLUM. BUT IT HAS SINCE BEEN REVEALED MR. ELAA OR A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY BRIBED A COURT PSYCHIATRIST TO CERTIFY HIS CONDITION SO HE COULD AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY. EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SAY MR. ELAA ESCAPED FROM THE ASYLUM JUST DAYS BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 18TH ATTACK. (SIGNED) NEB/DBR/PCF/RAE 30-Oct-97 8:21 AM EST (1321 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America
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