Five men believed to have Islamist affiliations were handed death sentences Saturday after being convicted of multiple terror-related charges in what is known as the "October cell case."They were found guilty, along with two more men who were slapped with life sentences, of involvement in the killing a policeman in an attack orchestrated by their cell on the Virgin Church in the 6th of October City last January.
Among other charges Giza Criminal Court upheld against them were "establishing and operating a terrorist group," "seeking to change state rule by force" and "assaulting police and army personnel."
The Egyptian government launched a campaign against militant groups following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July last year.
There has also been a crackdown on political Islamists, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood from which Morsi hails. The group was designated a terrorist organisation and outlawed in December 2013.
In the wake of the ouster, attacks on security and military personnel have also been on the rise, with hundreds killed over the past year in militant attacks.
