Egyptian authorities have uncovered a Muslim Brotherhood plot to assassinate the imprisoned former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in order to spark an Islamist revolution in the country which would overthrow the current regime, Jordanian daily Alarab Alyawm quoted an Egyptian security source as saying Sunday.
Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood member himself, was ousted by the Egyptian army in 2013 following mass protests against his rule. Morsi and 12 other Muslim Brotherhood members were convicted last month of violence, kidnapping and torture over the deaths of protesters in 2012. Morsi was sentenced to 20 years in jail.
The Muslim Brotherhood has been marginalized in Egypt since Morsi's ouster and the subsequent rise to power of former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. According to the Egyptian security source quoted in Alarab Alyawm, the plan called for Morsi to be "sacrificed" in the assassination in order to rally Brotherhood supporters to revolt and retake power in Egypt.
Possible methods the Brotherhood considered employing in order to kill the imprisoned Morsi included shooting down the helicopter that led him to court discussions or poisoning his food, according to the report.
The paper quoted sources close to Morsi's family as saying he was aware of the Brotherhood plan and fears for his life.
Learning of the plot, Egyptian authorities took extra security measures to secure Morsi's safety, keeping his movements to and from the trial strictly confidential and placing tight regulations on the food he is served in prison.
