Three Egyptians given life imprisonment for founding Al-Zaytoun terror cell

Cairo's Court for Urgent Matters sentenced three persons to life imprisonment on Sunday on charges of founding and belonging to an illegal terror cell with aims of overthrowing the government.

Out of 25 defendants, an additional two were given seven years in prison, another person received 10 years and the rest were acquitted.

The defendants, who allegedly belonged to a cell commonly known as Al-Zaytoun Cell, were also accused of preventing state and public institutions from performing their work and jeopardising the personal freedoms of citizens.

According to the prosecution's investigations, the cell called for forcible regime change and demonised the president, who they said should be not obeyed. They also incited attacks against police personnel, tourists and Christians.

In May, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said that security forces had broken up 40 terror cells and arrested 225 suspected militants since the previous month.

Attacks targeting police and army troops since last summer’s ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi have left over 400 dead.

The army, assisted by the police, has launched an offensive to counter the insurgency, especially in the Sinai Peninsula.