Egypt’s Interior Ministry security services have deployed wide-ranging security plans in Greater Cairo and across Egypt’s governorates alongside the start of the constitutional amendments referendum, in order secure the electoral headquarters and roads and address any attempts to obstruct the electoral process.
Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfiq held an extensive meeting with his aides on Thursday at the Ministry, during which he reviewed the security services’ plans to secure citizens, vital institutions and polling stations during the referendum process.
The security services in the various security directorates in the governorates have implemented large-scale security plans and procedures to maintain security and order, combat crime in all its forms and protect and secure citizens during their voting in the referendum.
Cooperating with the Armed Forces, security services will secure more than 10,000 polling stations over a period of three days. The Ministry has postponed the leaves and vacations of officers until the referendum’s completion on the constitutional amendments.
The Interior Ministry called on all citizens to comply with security instructions and cooperate with police to implement these security plans with utmost accuracy and proficiency.
The Minister stressed the determination of security to address whatever may disturb the citizens or disrupt the referendum process, and their full coordination with the armed forces in implementing the security procedures.
The security services tightened procedures in the underground and public transport stations in Greater Cairo, expanded deployment services, deployed secret services, and increased inspection of citizen bags using metal detectors.
The Civil Protection Departments in Cairo and the governorates also deployed bomb squads to inspect the perimeter of polling stations by conducting regular patrols as well as preparing security to deal with any emergency communications.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
