Egypt prosecutors request Tunisan aid in 'terrorism cell' investigations
State Security prosecutors asked for a Tunisian representative to attend investigations into an alleged terrorism cell accused of planning assassinations and seeking to topple the government
Ahram Online , Sunday 4 Nov 2012
Egypt's State Security prosecutors on Sunday announced they are continuing investigations on an alleged Nasr City, Cairo "terrorist cell," the suspects of which are accused of possessing weapons, planning the assassination of public figures, and seeking to topple Egypt's elected government, according to investigators.
The prosecution Sunday stated that it notified the Tunisian Embassy in Cairo to assign one of its representatives to attend the investigations as one of the suspects is Tunisian.
All suspects have denied the accusations. Two of the suspects previously stated they were in Syria when their alleged offences were perpetrated.
On Wednesday, Egypt's State Security prosecutors announced they had begun questioning eight members of an alleged "terrorist cell" accused of planning attacks throughout the country.
The veracity of the alleged cell, however, came into question when conflicting reports emerged about the identity of one suspect who died 25 Septemeber.
The interior ministry issued a statement criticising the conflicting media accounts, but has not yet disclosed the man's identity.
On Friday, Tarek El-Zomor, Al-Gamaa Islamiyya leader and founder of its Building and Development Party, accused Egypt's State Security police of fabricating the alleged cell as a scare tactic.
In a report published Saturday by the Egyptian daily Al-Shorouk it was revealed the eight suspects had undergone torture in pursuit of confessions, according to one lawyer.
The report further added that no bombs, explosives, or firearms were found during investigations, contrary to statements made by prosecutors on the day of their arrest.
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