Egypt

24 defendants imprisoned for 15 days for role in Kerdasa violence

Twenty-four defendants were sent to 15 days of prison pending investigations on charges of involvement in the Kerdasa events.
 
Shooting had taken place last week in the town Kerdasa, north Giza, as security forces invaded the town, leading to the death of Nabil Farag, deputy head of the Giza Security Directorate, and injuries to 9 officers and two recruits.
 
Three defendants, Qutb Sayed Qutb, Omar Suleiman and Salah Abdel-Hamid, were also sent to one day imprisonment pending investigation on charges of breaking into the Kerdasa police department and killing 11 officers. The break-in followed the dispersal of the sit-ins staged by supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsy in Rabea al-Adaweya and Nahda square last month.
 
The three defendants face charges of murder as well as attempted murder, possession of firearms and explosives and joining a terrorist group. They were also charged with resisting and undermining authority in an attempt to isolate Kerdasa from the rest of the country. 
 

Saber Amin Farhat, the main defendant suspected in the arson attack on the town's church was arrested while in possession of wires and electrical circuits, a source in the Interior Ministry told state-run news agency MENA.

The source stressed that authorities intend to continue the operation in Kerdasa until it is fully cleared of so-called terrorist elements and dangerous criminals.

As part of its fourth day of operations in the city, security forces continued raiding homes of suspects and combing agricultural areas for criminals.

The number of suspects arrested now stands at 132, with individuals facing charges which include resisting arrest, attempted murder of army and police officers, and throwing hand grenades at troops during their invasion of Kerdasa.

Major General Mohamed al-Sharqawy, head of Giza's investigations department, said they have identified the suspects accused of killing Major General Nabil Fara, deputy head  of Giza Security Directorate, who was killed during the security invasion of the city on Thursday

Sharqawy said that it is unlikely that main suspects who incite violence, such as Abdul Salam al-Bashandy, may have escaped out of Giza, since army and police checkpoints have tightened the noose on suspects still at large.

In his opinion, suspects are likely to be hiding in areas near Kerdasa at relatives' houses.

The forces are carrying out raids around the clock to catch those on the run, especially Nahiya, Beni Magdol and Abu Rawash.

He also ruled out the escape of Assem Abdel Magued and Tareq al-Zomor, leading members of Jama'a al-Islamiya, outside Kerdasa and Nahiya.

He anticipated that the main suspects responsible for inciting violence will all be arrested soon.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm 

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