Attorney-General Nabil Sadek on Wednesday referred 30 terrorists to Egypt’s High State Security Court to face charges of establishing an ISIS cell and attacking churches.
The accused are also charged with receiving military training at ISIS camps in Syria and Libya.
According to investigations conducted by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, leader “Nour” established a terrorist group in Egypt with two cells, trained them, and selected some members for suicide bombings.
Members of the cell have communicated with each other using secure messaging services like Telegram, investigators said.
Group members attended military training camps inside the country and abroad to improve their fighting techniques. They also received bomb-making training to carry out attacks in Egypt.
Some of the defendants were trained in ISIS camps in Syria and Libya.
The 30 defendants were planning to target the Church of Saint Maximus & Domadius in Alexandria, and the Church of the Virgin Mary and Saint Bishay in Damietta, as well as three other Christian houses of worship in Giza and Beheira governorates.
According to investigators, the group's members were ordered to bomb a Christian gathering at a store in Damietta’s old souk. Ammunition, explosive material, and weapons were found in the possession of the accused.
Also Wednesday, the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced nine suspects in absentia to life in prison and another 13 Muslim Brotherhood members to 10 years.
The defendants were accused of heading an illegal group between 2014 and March 2016 for violating the constitution and preventing state institutions from exercising their work.
