CAIRO: Five suspects have been referred Thursday to a military court over charges of targeting Karnak temple of Luxor in June, according to a statement from the Attorney General’s office.
On June 10, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the parking area of the temple, killing himself and another attacker and injuring at least five Egyptians including a police officer. Other three explosive devices were neutralized Wednesday near Karnak Temple.
The security forces arrested five suspects in July and confiscated explosives and maps of archeologist sites, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior on July 25. Per investigations, the charged defendants belong to Islamic State affiliate Wilayet Sinai (previously Ansar Bayt al-Maqis).
The decision of referral came upon law that allows military forces to join the police to secure public institutions and utilities for two years, and accordingly, any citizen arrested for attacking such entities may be referred to a military trial.