Trial of 213 of Ansar Beit El Maqdis terrorists delayed till April 6

The Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday adjourned till April 6 the trial of 213 defendants of "Ansar Beit El Maqdis" terrorist group for being involved in 54 terrorist crimes against police personnel and security bodies.

The charges against the defendants include a failed assassination attempt against former interior minister Mohamed Ibrahim, the murder of a number of police officers and setting fire to security facilities, including the security directorates of Cairo, Dakahlia, and South Sinai.

Investigations revealed that the defendants were trained in the camps of Ezzel Din el Qassam, the military wing of Palestinian movement Hamas and that they plotted to target ships transiting the Suez Canal.

They also face charges of joining a terrorist group aiming at disrupting national security, collaborating with a foreign organization represented in Hamas to sabotage State institutions, illegal possession of arms and ammunition and premeditated murder.

Investigations also showed that ousted president Mohamed Morsi was in contact with the militant group leaderships, when they agreed that Hamas would not carry out any terrorist attacks as long as he was in office.

Ansar Beit El Maqdis has claimed responsibility for most of major attacks against security forces, with the deadliest assaults taking place in Sinai.