• 02:16
  • Wednesday ,18 July 2012
العربية

Largest trial in Egyptian history for Mohamed Mahmoud clashes adjourned

By-Almasry Alyoum

Home News

00:07

Wednesday ,18 July 2012

Largest trial in Egyptian history for Mohamed Mahmoud clashes adjourned

 Cairo Criminal Court adjourned the trial of 379 suspects connected to the clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud Street until 13 October, state media reported Tuesday.

Only 50 suspects attended the trial, which was described by some legal experts as the biggest case in Egyptian legal history due to the number of people charged.
 
Al-Masry Al-Youm reported that the court set up a large iron cage to hold the large number of suspects.
 
The suspects, which include a Syrian and three US nationals, are accused of using force against civil servants, arms possession and attacking policemen in charge of securing the interior ministry and other neighboring government establishments.
 
According to investigations, the suspects also face charges of injuring 179 policemen, setting fire to police vehicles and real estate tax offices in Abdeen and Qasr al-Nil, and damaging a building belonging to the American University in Cairo.
 
Investigators into the arson of a branch of the real estate tax office said an armed group of people intended to commit crimes and resist authority. The investigation also alleged that one group member was in possession of drugs.
 
At least 40 people were killed and 1,500 wounded in November during several days of clashes between security forces and crowds protesting military rule around Mohamed Mahmoud Street. The clashes were some of the worst violence seen in Egypt since Mubarak’s overthrow.