Egypt jihadist arrested on return from Syria

Members of the jihadist group Al-Nusra Front fire homemade mortar rounds during fighting with goverment forces on February 8, 2014 in the Syrian village of Aziza. By (Baraa al-Halabi/AFP/File)

Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian authorities on Wednesday announced the arrest of a jihadist who returned home from the Syrian conflict to train Islamist militants in the use of explosives.

Hani Shahine had fought in the ranks of the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's franchise in Syria, the interior ministry said.

He was arrested in Al-Gharbiya province, 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Cairo, the ministry said on its Facebook page.

It said Shahine's assignment was to "train Islamist elements in the production and use of explosives", and that his arrest had led to five terrorist cells being dismantled.

Since the army toppled Egypt's Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, security forces have repeatedly been the target of deadly attacks by militants who say their aim is to avenge a crackdown by authorities that has left more than 1,400 dead, mostly pro-Morsi demonstrators.