Egyptian Government Declares Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group

The interim government in Egypt has declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.  This step follows a massive bombing outside of a police headquarters in northern Egypt on Tuesday, Dec. 24.

That car bombing took place in the northern delta city of Mansoura.  At least 15 people were killed, the vast majority of whom were police officers.  Some members of the interim Egyptian government blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for the attack; the Brotherhood publicly condemned the bombing.

According to the Associated Press, Hossam Eissa, the Minister of Higher Education, read out the Cabinet statement after long meeting on Wednesday.

Eissa said: "The Cabinet has declared the Muslim Brotherhood group and its organization as a terrorist organization."

The declaration gives the military-backed Egyptian government more expansive tools for cracking down on the Brotherhood.