Trial of 215 Muslim Brotherhood in "Helwan Brigades" case postponed

The Cairo Criminal Court on Sunday delayed the trial of 215 members of the Muslim Brotherhood over charges of forming armed groups known as "Helwan Brigades".

The postponement came to enable lawyers to study the case's documents.

Former prosecutor general Hisham Barakat approved in February referring the case to the criminal court while the 215 defendants remain in custody.

The Helwan Brigades are charged with carrying out attacks against army and police forces and vital facilities, particularly power pylons.

Investigations revealed that detained leaders of the MB gave orders of forming armed groups to attack vital state institutions to undermine the national economy and the state.

The so-called "Coalition to Support Legitimacy" coordinated moves among the armed groups during MB protests, the detainees confessed.

In August 2014, the self-proclaimed militia published a video on the internet of a group of armed and masked men vowing to target police facilities in Helwan City, southern Cairo.

They face charges of forming a terrorist cell, possessing firearms and vandalism.

Sources: MENA