7 Hanged as Egypt Cracks Down on Islamic Radicals

The Egyptian government hanged seven militants Thursday, including an 18-year-old convicted of firing on a tour bus, in a move signaling determination to crush violence by Islamic radicals that has devastated Egypt’s tourist industry.

All seven are disciples of Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman, the blind radical cleric who surrendered last week to U.S. authorities in New York and was jailed on immigration charges.

The executions, carried out without prior notice between 7 and 10 a.m., appeared to mark the largest group of people executed for politically related crimes in Egypt’s modern history.

Thursday’s executions are clearly meant to persuade the Islamic Group, Egypt’s most active underground Islamic movement, to halt its violent campaign to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak’s secular government and install an Islamic state. Abdul Rahman is the Islamic Group’s spiritual leader.

Over the past year, about 150 people have been killed in the violence, either by the extremists or police.

Two other militants were hanged last month, and 13 others sentenced to death recently are likely to have their sentences carried out over the next two months.