Cairo, June 18 (IANS): An Egyptian court Wednesday sentenced 12 more alleged supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to death over killing a police major general last year, media reported.
The case dates back to Sep 19 when some 23 persons showered Nabil Farag, assistant to chief of Giza Security Headquarters in Kerdasa district, with bullets during a police raid on an Islamist hideout, leaving nine other policemen injured.
The dozen defendants were also charged with forming a terrorist group, assaulting police premises and targeting the churches and public buildings, in addition to disturbing public order. Eight of them are in custody, but four are still on the run.
After the court issued its ruling, it was referred to the office of the Grand Mufti for review, Xinhua reported state-run Nile TV. The final verdict will be issued Aug 8.
Since the ouster of Morsi, the country's first freely-elected president, in July last year, a wave of militant attacks and explosions targeting security personnel and their premises have risen mainly in the restive Sinai peninsula. Recently, the attacks have also crept into the capital Cairo and Nile delta cities.
A recent government report put the toll from militant attacks at nearly 500. Most of the victims were soldiers and policemen.