Egypt has ordered Criminal trial of four Police Officers that Killed 39 People

There is going to be an urgent criminal trial of four Police officers charged with killing 39 members of the Muslim brotherhood after they were detained in August, ordered by Egypt’s prosecutor general on Tuesday. The general prosecution and a security source said.

The Islamists died after tear gas was fired into the back of a police van where they were being held. The four policemen have been arrested and charged with murder and unintended injury according to the security source.

“Investigation has proven that the officers transported 45 prisoners inside a transport vehicle that is not suitable to carry more than 24 people and fired tear gas inside… (This) led to the death of 37 prisoners and the suffocation of (two others).” The general prosecution said in a statement.

According to the interior ministry, the prisoners were trying to escape from the vehicle as it was transporting them to jail and they had also taken a police officer hostage.

“The prosecution has been investigating the incident since the seven involved police officers in three private sessions”, the security source said.