Egyptian court sentences 10 to death for planning attacks

Hundreds of extremists have received death sentences since toppling of former president Morsi

Egyptian Army's soldiers fire artilleries during a launch of a major assault against militants in the troubled northern part of the Sinai peninsula in Al Arish, Egypt, in this undated handout picture made available by the Ministry of Defence, February 27, 2018. Ministry of Defence/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Powered by automated translation

An Egyptian court sentenced 10 people to death after they were convicted of forming a terrorist group and planning attacks on police and security forces, judicial sources said.

The court in Cairo also sentenced five people to life in prison. State news agency MENA said the convicted men were supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood which was banned in Egypt after the 2013 overthrow of former President Mohammed Morsi.

Egypt has cracked down on suspected extremists since Mr Morsi was toppled by former general Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Mr Sisi took over as president a year later and is expected to be re-elected later this month.

With Egypt facing an ISIL insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, he has ordered the military to clear the region of extremists ahead of the March 26-28 presidential election.

Hundreds of extremists, including Muslim Brotherhood supporters and members, have received death sentences since 2013, and Egypt has carried out dozens of executions, according to security sources and rights groups.

Saturday's rulings, which can be appealed, followed the referral of the death sentence to the Grand Mufti, Egypt's highest Sunni Muslim authority. Three of the sentences were passed in absentia.

_______________

Read more:

Egypt's security forces kill 10 militants in Sinai operation

Three soldiers killed in campaign against extremists, Egypt says

Egypt's Operation Sinai 2018 is all-out war on militants

UN experts: ISIL militants still pose world threat