Egypt refers 919 to trial on terrorism, murder charges

Egyptian state prosecutor ordered on Wednesday two new mass trials for 919 Muslim Brotherhood members on charges including terrorism and murder, the state news agency reported.

The new trials will be held in Minya province, south of Cairo, where a judge this week sentenced 529 defendants to death on charges of killing a police officer during an attack on a police station last summer. The verdict sparked international criticism.

In one of the new trials announced Wednesday, 715 defendants, including the Muslim Brotherhood's top leader Mohammed Badie, are charged with killing six people and attempted murder of 51 others during attacks on state institutions on Aug. 14.

In the second trial, 204 defendants, also including Badie, face charges of inciting violence.

A court will set a date for the trials.

[With Associated Press]