Elements of Jihadist groups have escaped prisons during the political unrest across Egypt, Vice President Omar Suleiman said Wednesday.
"Egypt is now threatened by criminals and Jihadist organizations," Suleiman was quoted in al-Ahram newspaper as saying, DPA reported.
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"While I was intelligence chief I exerted huge efforts to bring these extremists from abroad, but now they are outside the prisons, as police suffer from low morale," Suleiman added.
Thousands of prisoners escaped from jails across Egypt after security forces disappeared from cities for several days after the protests against President Hosny Mubarak began on January 25.
However, anti-Mubarak protestors claim the government is keen to stir fears of chaos and an Islamist resurgence in order to cling to power.