Higher State Security Prosecution unveiled that members of Matrouh cell, who were arrested and referred to the Criminal Court lately, were trained in Daesh camps in Libya and Syria.

Some of them took part in the slaughtering of 21 Egyptian Copts by Daesh militants in Libya in February, according to the prosecution investigations.

Investigations also uncovered that this heinous crime was meant to drag the Egyptian army to hunt down Daesh militants in Libya.

Investigations also revealed that members of the 19-strong cell first contacted Daesh leaders in Libya through the internet and via sneaking into Libya from border areas.

Three of the cell members were still at large.

They agreed to form a group embracing Takfiri doctrine and hostile attacks against police, army and public installations in a bid to spread chaos and topple the Egyptian state.

The second defendant, identified as Mohamed Sayed Hegazi, formed the group in Matrouh and it was armed by weapons smuggled from Libya.

All defendants who joined the cell were either trained in camps in desert areas on the outskirts of Matrouh or in camps in Libya and Syria.

They were trained on the use of weapons and manufacturing of explosive devices.

The group was responsible for many terrorist attacks, including planting bombs behind Matrouh courthouse and Matrouh police station.

They were also responsible for setting fire to warehouses of police force in Matrouh.

Explosive materials, tools used in manufacturing bombs as well as CDs featuring military training of Daesh militants were seized in their possession.

Source: MENA