(AFP File Photo)
Cairo Criminal Court postponed Sunday the trial of 68 defendants of “Al-Zawahiri cell” to 31 May.
The defendants are accused of establishing and managing a terrorist organisation linked to Al-Qaeda. They would have conduct attacks on army and interior ministry officers, in addition to Christians and their houses of worship. They are also accused of committing “terrorist acts” with the aim of spreading chaos in the country.
Among the defendants is Mohamed Al-Zawahiri, brother of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. Out of the 68 defendants, 18 are still at large.
Egyptian courts are trying a number of “terrorist cells” with similar charges including Arab Sharkas cell, Tanta jihadist cell, Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis militant group, Missiles cell, Ansar Al-Sharia Brigades and Ajnad Misr.
Six of the defendants of the Arab Sharkas cell were executed Sunday morning. The verdict came out in October 2014.
Egyptian authorities have been engaged in what it describes as a “war” with the aim of combating “terrorism”.
