Just the Facts: Ansar Bait al-Maqdis

Militant group Ansar Bait al-Maqdis has reportedly claimed responsibility for this morning’s Cairo bombings that killed five and injured over 70 people. Last night, the group released an audio recording that threatened security forces just hours before the explosions that appeared to target the Egyptian police.

Find out more about Ansar Bait al-Maqdis below:

• Active in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, known for threats and attacks against Israeli and Egyptian security forces and installations
• Reportedly funded by extremist Islamist businessman and Muslim Brotherhood leader Khairat al-Shater
• Has also taken responsibility for:
  • An assassination attempt on Mohamed Ibrahim Moustafa last October
  • The assassination of security officer Mohamed Mabrouk, who was involved in the trial against Mohammed Morsy, last November
  • The bombing of a police compound in Mansoura last December
  • An attack on a police checkpoint in Beni Suef yesterday, Jan. 23

WE SAID THIS: Stay tuned for more developments.