Egyptian session in trial of 68 militants delayed until August 10

Cairo Criminal Court has delayed until August 10 the ruling session in the trial of 68 terrorists, including the brother of al Qaeda leader Ayman el Zawahri, on charges of forming and running a terrorist organization.

The court delayed the ruling session for pleadings to continue.

In April 2014, the public prosecution had handed over to the court the file of the case that involves 18 runaways with arrest warrants against them.

The defendants are charged with running an Al Qaeda offshoot in Egypt to plot terrorist operations against state institutions, the army, police and Coptic Christians.

The prime defendant, Zawahri's brother, has revived the terrorist organization and worked on connecting it with other Jihadist groups outside and inside Egypt, according to investigations.

Following the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 and the dispersal of pro-Mohamed Morsi sit-ins in August, Zawahri gave orders to fighters from terrorist groups to come to Egypt and join militant ranks to execute hostile operations against the police and army. Zawahri was the one to organize the operations and in charge of the provision of firearms and explosives, the investigations revealed.

Cell phones connected with explosive circuits, explosive belts, gun silencers, large amounts of local and foreign money, and organizational papers on executing the attacks were found in possession of the 50 detained terrorists. Also photos and data about sensitive sites, including the High Dam, power stations, fuel warehouses, the satellite station, security directorates, army HQ, churches and city councils were found with them along with the names of and details about several officers and prominent figures.

Video footage of several terror operations, including bombings of natural gas pipelines, and radical Takfiri fatwas were found stored on the laptops.

Among the weapons seized with the defendants were large quantities of automatic rifles, ammo and bird-shot shells, an 82mm mortar, rockets and their launching pads, bombs and explosive materials