Security services in Qalyubiya arrested the main suspect in the armed robbery of presidential hopeful Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh Monday .
The suspect, Mohamed Nabih Abdel Samie, admitted that he and another four men robbed Abouel Fotouh.
“Our intention was to steal, not target him in particular,” he said, giving prosecutors the names of his accomplices.
Qalyubiya Security Director Ahmed al-Naghy said the suspect is part of a crime gang including more than 14 others who are hiding in the governorate.
“Arresting him was part of a wider campaign to comb the area,” he said, adding that the campaign succeeded in arresting eight ex-convicts trafficking drugs and arms after exchanging fire for two hours. “We seized drugs and three stolen cars,” he said.
Abouel Fotouh was attacked and robbed by gunmen at 11 pm Thursday evening on his way home from an election rally at Shebein al-Koam in Monufiya Governorate.
Masked men in a Mitsubishi stopped Abouel Fotouh's car and assaulted the driver. When Abouel Fotouh tried to stop them, one of the assailants hit him in the head with the back of a machine gun and took his car, leaving him and the driver on the road.
Abouel Fotouh was transferred to the New Cairo Hospital in the Fifth Settlement where he received treatment. He was released Friday morning.
