Egypt sentences to death 7 suspected members of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis
An Egyptian court sentenced to death seven suspected members of Islamist militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis on Tuesday on charges related to attacks on the military in and around Cairo in March which killed nine soldiers, judicial sources said.
The ruling was the first death sentence handed down against members of the Sinai-based faction, which is considered the country's deadliest jihadist group and has established contacts with Islamic State militants operating in Iraq and Syria.
"A military court sentenced seven civilian defendants to death on charges from the military prosecutor including planning and executing the attacks," a defence lawyer said.
