Egyptian police arrest Muslim Brotherhood spokesman, Gehad El-Haddad

Police arrested Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad today, three security officials said, the latest high-profile detention in the army-backed authorities’ crackdown on the Islamist movement.

Mr Haddad was detained with two other Brotherhood officials in an apartment in Cairo. He served as chief of staff to deputy Brotherhood leader Khairat El-Shater and is the son of Essam El-Haddad, an aide to deposed president Mohamed Morsi.

Mr Haddad, the Brotherhood’s main point of contact with international media before the crackdown, is charged with inciting the killing of protesters.

Many of the Brotherhood’s top leaders have been detained on similar charges since the army deposed Mr Morsi on 3 July, triggering the worst spasm of violence in Egypt’s modern history. At least a thousand people have been killed since then, comprising mostly supporters of the deposed leader but also scores of members of the security forces.

Reuters