An Egyptian court today sentenced seven militants to death for killing 25 policemen in the country's restive North Sinai governorate in the aftermath of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi's ouster.
The verdict was delivered by the Cairo Criminal court against the seven militants including their leader Adel Habara. Three others were sentenced to 25 years in prison and 22 defendants jailed for 15 years while three others were acquitted.
In June last year, the Egyptian court ordered the retrial of Habara and six islamist militants and canceled previous death sentences given to them over killing of 25 policemen in an ambush in North Sinai's Rafah city in 2013, one month after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. They were also convicted of espionage with an al-Qeada militant group.
The death sentences were issued in October last year, pending the approval of Grand Mufti, who according to Egyptian law, must review all death punishments.
Habara was also involved in several other militant attacks including an attack in Rafah in August 2012 which left 16 soldiers dead.
Militant attacks against police and army personnel have been increased since the ouster of Morsi in July 2013 and the Government crackdown on his supporters.
Over 600 security personnel have been reported killed since then.
