Egyptian security forces have arrested journalists working for the Qatari-based Al-Jazeera network over alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood, the leading Islamist group that was last week branded a “terrorist” organisation, the interior ministry said.
The network said that four of its Cairo team – correspondent Peter Greste, producers Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed and cameraman Mohamed Fawzy – have been in custody since last night.
Al-Jazeera said it is demanding their immediate release.
The ministry said only two Al-Jazeera staff were arrested, an Australian journalist and a second person, a Brotherhood member. It said they were meeting at a five-star Cairo hotel that is used to “spread rumours harming national security”.
Egypt’s military-backed government has long accused Al-Jazeera of bias because Qatar is perceived to have supported the Brotherhood.