Egypt to develop “strict” plans to secure public utilities

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab directed ministers to develop “strict security plans” to secure public utilities and tourist attractions, Youm7 reported Thursday.

“We are in a state of war, and we should be in a constant state of alert. Each ministry should have a clear security plan for installations that belong to it, in order to combat current dangers,” a statement quoted Mahlab as saying during a cabinet meeting Thursday.

He also addressed the importance of training security guards at ministries and installing surveillance cameras at vital utilities including power and water stations.

He further urged different ministers and governors to coordinate with the ministry of Interior and the armed forces.

Proposed security plans by ministries of electricity, antiquities, tourism and culture, were discussed during the meeting.

Acts of violence in the Egyptian streets have become a daily routine since the 2011 uprising.

Public utilities including power transformers, mobile operators and transmission towers have been regularly attacked. Such attacks have inflicted huge financial losses on the government.

On Tuesday, the day marking the second anniversary of the June 30 anti-Morsi mass protest, several attacks hit different governorates killing at least five people in spite of tight security measures taken on that day.

Additional reporting by Hend Mokhtar

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