Egypt court sentences 26 to death for planning Suez Canal attacks

An Egyptian court has sentenced 26 people to death for forming a terrorist group and planning attacks on the Suez Canal.

All defendants but one were tried in absentia at Cairo Criminal Court.

The prosecutors charged the group with planning attacks on ships passing the canal last year, security buildings, foreign tourists, Christians and police.

An al-Qaida-inspired group has claimed responsibility for a rocket-propelled grenade attack targeting the canal last year.

In 2012, an Egyptian court sentenced 14 militants to death on charges related to attacks on police and civilians in the volatile Sinai Peninsula in the aftermath of the 2011 uprising.

Eight are in prison while the rest were tried in absentia. They allegedly belonged to the extremist Tawheed and Jihad group.