Ruling in "Ramses Square" violence case set for Sept. 18

Cairo Criminal Court has adjourned until September 18 a ruling session in the trial of 494 Muslim Brotherhood members implicated in acts of violence that took place in Ramses Square following the crackdown on MB protest camps in August 2013. 

The acts of violence left 44 persons dead and 59 others wounded, including 22 police personnel.

The defendants are accused of attempted murder, thuggery, targeting police personnel by live ammunition, possessing unlicensed weapons, sabotaging public facilities and blocking traffic on the "6th of October" bridge.

Ramses acts of violence took place two days after the August 14 dispersal of two pro-MB sit-ins in Rabea el Adaweya and Nahda Squares.

They are also charged with vandalizing the Arab Contractors Company headquarters and setting it ablaze, attacking the Ramses Square police checkpoint and vandalizing cars, police vehicles and ambulances.

According to the prosecution, two Brotherhood leaders entered Al Fatah Mosque to begin a sit-in, using the holy building as a sanctuary to avoid arrest while opening fire at police forces. 

The prosecution lists as evidence MB statements posted on social networking websites to urge supporters to gather in the embattled square under the slogan “Friday of Anger” as a sign of opposition against the interim government. 

The defendants also attacked the Azbakeya police station, throwing Molotov cocktails and tear gas canisters into the building before opening fire with machine guns.

Source: MENA