10 defendants referred to Egypt court on IS-linked terror charges

CAIRO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prosecutor General Nabil Ahmed Sadeq referred on Wednesday 10 defendants to the Higher Emergency State Security Court on charges of founding and joining Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, state-run MENA news agency reported.

The defendants also face charges of receiving military exercises at the group's headquarters outside Egypt and killing a Christian citizen, according to MENA.

They are also charged with attempted murder of citizens, robbing a store owned by a Christian and possessing firearms.

Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Terror attacks in Egypt used to be centered in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and killing hundreds of policemen and soldiers over the past few years.

On Friday, a terrorist attack against a mosque in North Sinai killed at least 305 Muslim worshippers, including children, and wounded over 120 others.

Although no group has yet claimed responsibility for the mosque attack, fingers are pointed at a Sinai-based group loyal to IS, which has claimed most of the terrorist operations in Egypt over the past few years.

On Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered the army's chief of staff to restore security and stability in the restive part of the Sinai Peninsula within three months. Enditem