The statement issued by Egypt's Ministry of Interior claimed that Mohab Qasim received financial and logistical support from Muslim Brotherhood leaders based in Qatar.[3]
According to the statement, Qasim traveled to Qatar in 2015 and met with Muslim Brotherhood leaders.[xii] Qasim was allegedly offered financial and logistical support to carry out attacks in Egypt.[3] Upon returning to Egypt, Qasim reportedly traveled to North Sinai where he met with members of Ansar Beit El-Maqdis to receive training on using weapons and making explosives.[2][4]
Following his visit to North Sinai, Qasim was allegedly given permission by Qatar-based Muslim Brotherhood leaders to carry out attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christians in hopes of furthering sectarian divides in Egypt.[2] The Ministry of the Interior claimed that Qasim was behind a call made by the Egyptian Revolutionary Council for attacks against Egypt's Copts for their support for the government of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, condemned Egypt's accusations of Qatari involvement in the suicide attack on Thursday, December 15.[3] Al Zayani claimed that "unverified statements could harm the strong relations between the GCC and Egypt."[3]
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Qatari Information Office Ahmed Al-Rumaihi condemned Egypt's accusations. In a statement reported by the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Rumaihi acknowledged that Qasim arrived in Qatar on December 3, 2015, on an entry visit visa, but claimed that Qatari authorities did not receive a request to detain the suspect or prevent him from entering Qatar.[6]
Ahmed Al Rumaihi also stated that the State of Qatar "rejects terrorism in all its forms regardless of its motives, as well as Qatar’s rejection to any threat to the security of the Egyptian people."[7]