State Security’s High Prosecution Authority ordered the detention of a suspect in the High Court explosion for 15 days pending investigations, revealing that he had ties to the militant group Ajnad Misr, which targets security forces.
The suspect reportedly confessed to the crime, state-run MENA reported Saturday. The explosion took place on 2 March, killing two civilians and injuring others. The bomb detonated from under a car, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Investigations reportedly showed that the suspect was identified on security cameras placed within the surroundings of the High Court. He was seen planting a bomb under a car and detonating it from a distance using a mobile phone. He was arrested after attempting a recent similar attack near the cabinet headquarters, MENA added.
The suspect allegedly told authorities that he had participated with a fugitive member of Ajnad Misr in a blast that claimed the life of one civilian back in 2014, on the anniversary of the 25 January Revolution. Authorities said that he had been involved in more explosions across Cairo.
The explosion took place in front of a cinema in Haram Street and was reportedly declared by Sinai-based militant group ‘State of Sinai’, formerly Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis.
Nonetheless, security authorities had arrested and detained the main suspect and aides nearly two months after the incident, and a trial for the case began last December, as news reports shared different opinions about which armed group the suspect belonged to. According to the man accused of the High Court bombing, Ajnad Misr was behind the attack, MENA reported.
Both militant groups have been targeting police and military officers for nearly two years, especially ahead of important national and international events. The Economic Summit currently taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh is hosting over 52 countries.
