Egypt Sets Trial for Suspects in Alexandria Security Chief Murder Attempt

Egyptian forensics check a destroyed vehicle at the site of a bomb attack in the northern port city of Alexandria, which hit a convoy of the city's security chief, on March 24, 2018. (AFP PHOTO)

The Cairo Criminal Court set June 14 for the start of the trial of 11 defendants charged with the attempted assassination of Chief of Alexandria Security Directorate Mustafa al-Nemr.

The case of three of them has been referred to the Mufti for his opinion on whether they can be executed.

The defendants are accused of leading and joining Hasm militant group - affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood - from 2016 until 2018. The group aims to oust the regime, undermine national unity, and attack individuals, public establishments, police, judiciary, and armed forces.

The prosecution accused the defendants of joining a terrorist group, and intentionally killing two of Nemr’s police guards. They placed a booby-trapped vehicle and remotely detonated it when the Alexandria security chief's convoy passed.

The prosecution accused them of the attempted killing of Nemr and six of his guards who were present at the site of the attack.