Beltagy detained for 15 days

The prosecution ordered the detention of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed al-Beltagy on Monday for 15 days on charges of inciting violence in Ramses Square in mid-July, including an attempted attack on the Azbakeya police station, the assault of police officers and blocking the October 6 Bridge.

Beltagy was arrested last Thursday. He had gone into hiding in a Giza flat after the authorities issued arrest warrants against him and other Muslim Brotherhood members. He had previously been detained on similar charges and referred to investigation regarding other incidents.

During the investigation, Beltagy denied the charges and argued that his speeches were not aimed at inciting violence. He also said that he was not aware of the marches that were planned the day the violence occurred, and that his presence was limited to Rabea al-Adaweya Square.

Also on Monday, security forces arrested Brotherhood leaders Mohamed Ibrahim Salama and Hamdy al-Sayed Borai. They are charged with inciting violence in Suez.

The prosecution further ordered the detention of 125 Brotherhood members in Qalyubiya on charges of assembling to overthrow the interim government, disturbing the peace, using violence and belonging to an illegal organization.

The detainees were arrested in the Nour area in Banha, where violence recently broke out between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and area residents.

Eighty-one members of the group were also remanded to 15 days in detention on charges of murder and thuggery related to violence that broke out in Zagazig on the same day.