The Cairo Criminal Court postponed Tuesday the “Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis” trial, against alleged members of the militant group now known as “State of Sinai”, to 11 June.
The 213 stand trial on several charges, including the assassination 54 police officers, the attempted assassination of former interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim, and the bombings of security facilities and installations.
The prosecution accused them of establishing and managing a “terrorist organisation”, attacking the rights and freedoms of citizens, espionage with Hamas, and attempted murder.
The militant group mainly operates in North Sinai, notably in Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Arish. Since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the group has been targeting security personnel and facilities. Civilians have been targeted as well for collaborating with the Egyptian army.
The group pledged allegiance to “Islamic State” in November in 2014, rebranding themselves to “State of Sinai”.
“State of Sinai”usually claims its attacks on social media networks, especially Twitter.
The armed group has been designated as a “terrorist organisation” upon the request of the Prosecutor General in April.
On Sunday, 6 men were executed by the authorities, following their death sentences for “killing army officers” and belonging to “terrorist group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis”, in the ‘Arab Sharkas cell’ case.
