Jihad Group #CR0001804 (Also... Some alternate names are aliases, other are names for specific subgroups or cells). al-Jihad New Iihad Group Vanguards of Conquest Tala'i' al Fath Talaa'al-Fateh Islamic Jihad Source: CIA, EuroTer, Interpol Type: Political terrorist organization Scope: A religious organization that carries out frequent terrorist attacks against high ranking Egyptian political targets. Affiliations: Known connections with Worldwide Islamic Jihad [#CR0001716], and al-Gama'at al- Islamiyya [#CR0002113]. [EuroTer] Believed to be receiving training and support from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-Special Command [#CR0001639]. [CIA] Personnel: Not known, but probably several thousand hardcore members and another several thousand sympathizers among the various factions. Operating Since: 1981 Structure: Scattered cells numbering between five and eight members each. The cells follow a religious hierarchy. [Interpol] Leaders: The original Jihad was led by Abbud al-Zumar [#LL3478126], currently imprisoned in Egypt, and a new faction calling itself Vanguards of Conquest (Talaa'al al-Fateh [Tala'i' al Fath] or the New Jihad Group), appears to be led by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri [#LL5971833], who is currently outside Egypt. They also regard Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman [Sheikh Umar Abd-al Rahman] [#LL5648317] as their spiritual leader. Legitimate Connections: Known to filter money from a variety of legitimate relief organizations, as well as a number of unknown criminal ventures. Resources: Smallarms, explosives and military equipment. Excellent support and intelligence resources. The Egyptian Government claims that Iran, Sudan, and militant Islamic groups in Afghanistan support the Jihad factions. Suspected Criminal Activity: The Jihad groups specialize in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian Government officials. The original iihad was responsible for the 1981 assassination of President Sadat. More recently, the newer jihad group led by Zawahiri claimed responsibility for the 18 August 1993 bomb attack in Cairo, which wounded Egyptian Interior Minister Hassan al-Alfi and killed five others, and the 25 November 1993 car-bomb attack in Cairo on Prime Minister Sidqi; although Sidqi was unhurt, a teenage girl was killed and 18 others were injured. Unlike the al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya [#CR0002113], which mainly targets mid-and lower-level security personnel, Coptic Christians, and Western tourists, the Jihad group appears to concentrate primarily on high-level, high-profile Egyptian Government officials, including Cabinet Ministers. It also seems more technically sophisticated in its attacks than the al-Gama'at al- Islamiyya, notably in its use of car bombs. Additional Commentary: An Egyptian Islamic extremist group active since the late 1970s; appears to be divided into at least two separate factions: remnants of the original Jihad led by Abbud al-Zumar, currently imprisoned in Egypt, and a new faction calling itself Vanguards of Conquest (Talaa'al al-Fateh [Tala'i' al Fath] or the New Jihad Group). The Vanguards of Conquest appears to be led by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is currently outside Egypt, specific whereabouts unknown. In addition to the Islamic Group, the Jihad factions regard Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman [Sheikh Umar Abd-al Rahman] as their spiritual leader. The goal of all Jihad factions is to overthrow the government of President Hosni Mubarak and replace it with an Islamic state.
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