After months of suggesting that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind terrorist attacks and bombings, the Egyptian government made it official on Wednesday.

The announcement of the declaration that the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization means that any Egyptian who is associated in any way with the group can be immediately arrested and jailed.  All activities related to the group, including providing funding to any part of the organization, is criminal.

Hossam Eissa, Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education, said the action by the Cabinet comes after Tuesday’s deadly terror attack on a police headquarters in a Nile Delta city that killed 16 and wounded 100.  The Muslim Brotherhood denied participation in the attack and referred to an al-Qaeda inspired group that tried to claim responsibility.

“Egypt was horrified from north to south by the hideous crime committed by the Muslim Brotherhood group,” Eissa told reporters. “This was in context of dangerous escalation to violence against Egypt and Egyptians, a clear declaration by the Muslim Brotherhood group that it still knows nothing but violence.  It’s not possible for Egypt the state nor Egypt the people to submit to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorism.”

The head of the Brotherhood’s political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, said the decision is only worth the paper that it is printed on and will have no impact on their organization.

The declaration allows police and military troops to increase activity against Brotherhood groups including entering buildings housing Brotherhood members without a warrant.