The terror circuit of the Mansoura Criminal Court acquitted 25 members of the Muslim Brotherhood on Saturday afternoon.

The defendants, who were confirmed to be members of the Brotherhood by their defence lawyer, faced charges including inciting and participating in violence, blocking roads, and damaging public and private property in August 2013.

Defence lawyer Fawzy Nasr said that 20 of the 25 Brotherhood members were tried in absentia.

The same court also postponed the trial of eight other Brotherhood members until 7 June to hear the case of the defence, according to state-run Al-Ahram.

Violent clashes occurred around Egypt in August last year following the forcible dispersal of two large sit-ins calling for the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Morsi. Rights groups estimated that almost 1500 people were arrested following the dispersals, which according to official figures resulted in approximately 600 deaths, although independent counts put the death toll at approximately 1000.