Hizbullah Cell Used Women as Disguise
The so-called Hizbullah cell has used a number of women as camouflage to counter Egyptian security measures, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Friday, citing documents in the case.
Documents that were reviewed by al-Hayat uncovered that these women were having affairs with the cell members accused of plotting attacks in Egypt, "an indication that they had been used as a cover up to evade security measures."
Meanwhile, forensic reports proved that torture had not taken place, contrary to defense claims.
The 22 alleged members of the Hizbullah cell had claimed they were tortured by police in custody ahead of their trial on Sunday.
They include two Lebanese, five Palestinians and 19 Egyptians.
Four more accused are on the run and are being tried in absentia, including alleged Lebanese mastermind Mohammed Qabalan.
During Sunday”s hearing one man shouted "We are at your command Nasrallah," in an apparent reference to Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah who admitted in April that one of the defendants, Lebanese Mohammed Youssef Ahmed Mansour known as Sami Shehab, was a Hizbullah agent tasked with smuggling weapons to militants in the Gaza Strip.
Authorities began arresting members of what has become known as the "Hizbullah cell" in 2008, accusing them of plotting attacks against Israeli tourists and on ships in the Suez Canal.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 24.