The North Cairo Criminal Court on Monday postponed until 3 September the trial of Maikel Adel Naguib and Maikel Mossad Shaker, who are accused of stealing a machine gun from the armed forces during the Maspero violence.

Naguib and Shaker are charged with incitement, stealing weapons from the armed forces and attempting to break into the state television building, as well as damaging public and private property.

When it reconvenes, the court will hear testimony from members of the armed forces who were manning the armored vehicle from which the weapon was allegedly stolen.

Clashes broke out after a protest at the Maspero state TV building in Cairo was forcibly dispersed on 9 October. Twenty-eight people, mostly Coptic protesters, died. Some were killed when they were run over by military vehicles. The events prompted outcry from human rights groups and activists.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm