5 sentenced to death for killing an officer

An Egyptian court today sentenced five men to death for fatally shooting an on-duty policeman at a church just outside Cairo in January.
The men were convicted of shooting to death the officer and were also accused of forming a terrorist cell and planning attacks against the police and the army.
The death sentences, set by a criminal court in Giza province, is not final and can either be confirmed or overturned in a final verdict due on September 20.
The sentence has to be approved by the Grand Mufti, Shawqi Allam, who according to Egyptian law must review all capital punishment verdicts.

Militant attacks against police and army have increased since the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in a military coup in July last year.
Last summer, Islamists also attacked churches as well as Christian homes and businesses, accusing Coptic Christians of supporting the removal of Morsi by now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Over 500 security personnel have been reported killed since then while at least 1,400 Morsi supporters have been killed in the Egyptian regime's crackdown and around 15,000 others imprisoned.