64 referred to military prosecution for belonging to armed Brotherhood ‘special unit’

Egypt’s prosecutor referred Saturday 64 defendants to military prosecution on charges of belonging to a “special unit” within the Muslim Brotherhood that acted as an “armed wing” targeting judges and security forces.

According to the prosecution report, 23 of the defendants confessed to belonging to the “special unit” and owning weapons, 10 confessed to setting fire to an Alexandria court, nine confessed to the destruction of electricity pylons, public buildings and police cars in Port Said, and another four confessed to planting explosives in Cairo International Airport and shopping malls.

Several Muslim Brotherhood leaders, including Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, are already standing trial in front of military courts.

In December 2013, Egypt’s cabinet labeled the Muslim Brotherhood, from which ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi hails, a terrorist organisation.

Since the summer of 2013, thousands of members and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood have been rounded up and faced trials.

Egypt has been hit by a wave of militant attacks since the ouster of Morsi. While most attacks have targeted security forces, civilians have also become targets recently with explosives planted in malls and telecommunication company outlets.

Source: Ahram Online