Trial of 215 Muslim Brotherhood elements of 'Helwan Brigades" adjourned to March 13

The Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday decided to adjourn to March 13 the trial of 215 members of the Muslim Brotherhood group over charges of forming an armed gang named "Helwan Brigades", involved in carrying out attacks against police and army facilities and power stations.

The postponement decision was taken to listen to the testimonies of the witnesses.

The defendants are accused of forming a militant group to carry out hostile operations against the police and sabotage power facilities, including pylons. 

The defendants were referred to trial by late prosecutor general Hisham Barakat. He accused the 215 men of killing six policemen and possessing weapons and ammunition.

They were also involved in targeting police forces during Al Azhar University clashes, which left three conscripts killed and 12 others injured and damaged a police vehicle.

Late in 2014, some members of the group appeared in a video holding firearms and threatening security forces and “the interior ministry in South Cairo” with violence.

They were arrested with 12 automatic rifles, a sniper rifle, ammunition, three gun shots, Molotov cocktails as well as several magazines.(MENA)