5 accused of IS affiliation referred to trial in Suez

CAIRO – 5 May, 2017: Suez Prosecution referred Friday five people accused of affiliations with the Islamic State (IS) militant group to criminal court.
In February, the five defendants were arrested in Suez city, northeastern Egypt, as they were planning to travel to Libya.

National Security forces raided their homes and seized financial documents and remittances reportedly sent by members of the terrorist group.
The defendants admitted to joining the IS group through its affiliated groups on social media.

The terrorist group claimed responsibility of twin bombings at two churches in Egypt on Palm Sunday, resulting in at least 45 deaths and hundreds of injured. A three-month state of emergency was then declared across the country, after it was restricted to the northern top of the Sinai Peninsula.

An affiliate militant group, based in North Sinai, launched several attacks targeting police and army forces over the past years, following the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in July 3, 2013.