CAIRO, Oct 20 (Aswat Masriya) – Egypt's top prosecutor referred to trial on Monday 36 "terrorists" for setting up a "terrorist organisation" during the pro-Mohamed Mursi Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in last year.

The public prosecution said in a statement that the "highly dangerous" organisation was established by a 38 year-old laundry shop-owner who participated in the Rabaa sit-in. 

The prosecution accused him, alongside a 39 year-old turnery owner, of raising funds for their organisation from Rabaa sit-in protesters. It added that the two defendants used the money to buy arms which they hid at the sit-in and used in facing security personnel during the sit-in's dispersal.

The Rabaa camp was set up to demonstrate support for Mursi's administration in late June 2013 and was maintained following his military ouster on July 3 and until its forcible dispersal on August 14. Its dispersal left behind hundreds of civilians and eight security personnel killed.

The organisation promoted "extremist thoughts" against the state and "targeted Christians and their houses of worship and possessions," the prosecution said.

The defendants planned "hostile acts" against security forces, as well as vandalising public and private properties, the prosecution added.

The 36 defendants are accused of establishing and organising a "terrorist" organisation, attempted murder and creating and possessing explosives and firearms, among other charges. 

One of the defendants is also accused of joining a "terrorist group" which operates in Syria and receiving military training there.

Security forces have arrested 22 of the defendants. The prosecutor general has issued an arrest warrant for the remaining 14.

Muslim Brotherhood leaders and supporters have often found themselves behind bars and facing courts since the ouster of Brotherhood member and former President Mursi in July last year. A court in Minya has served over 1000 Brotherhood supporters preliminary death sentences in March and April 2014.

The Brotherhood itself was listed as a terrorist organisation in December last year.