Egypt sentences 14 militants to death over Sinai attacks

An Egyptian court has sentenced 14 militants to death and another 6 to life in prison over attacks on army and police forces in the Sinai Peninsula last year.

The men were charged at the Ismailiya Court on Monday for killing three police officers, an army officer and a civilian in attacks carried out in June and July 2011.

The defendants blamed President Mohamed Morsi for the court’s decision.

“Morsi is an infidel and those who follow him are infidels,” one defendant said.

On August 5, Sinai militants clashed with Egyptian soldiers, killing at least 16 border guards and leaving several others injured.

Egypt has been trying to secure its borders following the 2011 revolution, which resulted in the ouster of Dictator Hosni Mubarak.

The outbreak of militant attacks in the Sinai region prompted the Egyptian government to deploy hundreds of troops in the restive region to prevent future violence.

Hundreds of troops have been deployed to the restive region to prevent any future attacks after President Morsi pledged to strongly respond to the “cowardly attacks,” vowing that the assailants would pay for the deadly attacks.