26 sentenced to death in Egypt over attacking Suez Canal

An Egyptian criminal court on Wednesday sentenced 26 persons of a terrorist cell to death over charges of attacking the Suez Canal course last year, state-run Nile TV reported. Another suspect was convicted to 15 years with labor, the report added. They were charged of forming a terrorist cell to target ships passing through the Suez Canal, as well as making missiles and explosive devices and possessing automatic weapons and huge amounts of ammunition. Since former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi was ousted last July, security conditions in Egypt have been deteriorating as hardliners frequently stage attacks on military and police premises as well as energy facilities.