East Cairo prosecutors have decided to detain two protesters pending investigation over their alleged involvement in clashes that broke out in late April near the Defense Ministry in Abbasseya.
The suspects face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of firearms, damaging public and private property, and hindering traffic during the clashes that took place in the Cairo neighborhood between anti-military protesters and civilian-backed military personnel.
Eleven people had been killed in street fighting that erupted in Abbasseya in which the army did not intervene. Later that week, one soldier died and 373 people were wounded in clashes between military officers and protesters at the Defense Ministry.
The attorney general ordered the arrest of people suspected of ordering the sit-in at the ministry, including well-known personalities, media outlets reported after the second round of clashes.
Investigations show that the two suspects, who are brothers, both support Salafi preacher Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, who had been a front-runner in the presidential election until being disqualified over evidence that showed his late mother held American citizenship.
The pair allegedly shot at large numbers of Abbasseya residents on 28 April before residents managed to detain them, releasing them after taking their IDs.
Citizens in Abbasseya also reported the incident to the prosecution after large numbers of them were injured by gunfire allegedly shot by the two suspects, investigations showed.
The suspects denied the charges after being summoned by prosecutors, saying they were only helping carry wounded people to hospitals.
Prosecutors noticed that one of the two suspects had shaved his beard before appearing before interrogators, and believe the suspect wanted to avoid being identified.
