Cairo, Oct 11 (IANS) An Egyptian military court on Thursday sentenced 17 Islamists to death over accusations of bombing three churches in the country which claimed 82 lives, state news agency MENA reported.
Nineteen people received life sentences (25 years in Egypt) and 15 others were handed eight years in jail over the same charges.
In April 2017, twin suicide bombings took place at St. George’s Church in the city of Tanat and St. Mark’s Coptic orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria, leaving 45 people dead.
Another attack took place in St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the capital, killing 37, in 2016.
At least 166 persons were wounded in the three attacks.
The defendants were also convicted of attempted murder of 14 policemen in Cairo.
Since the ouster of the Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by the Army in response to mass protests against his rule, Egypt has been facing waves of terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of security men.
Some of the attacks have also targeted civilians and churches in recent years. Most of the attacks were claimed by Islamic State branch in Egypt.
–IANS
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