Egyptian armed forces announced Sunday that its members have intensified security measures to protect vital targets and tightened control of crossings and land and coastal borders in strategic areas. Official spokesman of the armed forces Colonel Tamer al-Rifai said that the second and third field army forces bolstered their measures in cooperation with the security services of the Ministry of Interior to secure the crossings and ferries on the waterway of the Suez Canal. He explained that these actions were taken in accordance with a plan aimed at cracking down on criminal elements and suspects, in addition to tightening the noose on terrorists and preventing logistic support from reaching them. The third field forces have tightened their operations around the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel by using the latest equipment and techniques for detecting weapons, ammunition and explosives to prevent smuggling from and to Sinai, Rifai said. The second field army reinforced safety of Sarabium, Nemra 6 and Qantara in Ismailia, as well as newly established bridges. The spokesman stressed that this comes within armed forces efforts to secure and protect the internal front and provide security and stability throughout Egypt. Egypt has been witnessing sporadic terrorist acts, especially in North Sinai, which have increased in recent years following the 2013 ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. In this context, the Giza Criminal Court sentenced on Sunday 19 students to five years in prison for committing acts of vandalism in support the outlawed group. They were convicted of storming one of Al-Azhar buildings, assaulting its employees and setting fire to civilian vehicles during pro-Morsi violent protests. The court also sentenced a minor to three years in prison in the same case.