Egypt convicts 65 on terror charges, allegiance to IS

CAIRO – An Egyptian court has convicted 65 suspected militants of setting up a terrorist group and declaring allegiance to the extremist Islamic State group, sentencing 18 of them to life in prison.

Thursday’s verdict by a Cairo criminal court also sentenced 41 people to 15 years in prison and six more to five years.

Two defendants were acquitted.

Of the 67 defendants, only 43 are in custody, while the rest, who include two women, are fugitives.

The prosecutors said the group set up cells in six provinces and members received training on firearms and explosives.

Egypt’s security forces have for years been battling militants in the turbulent northern Sinai Peninsula. The militants’ insurgency, led by a local affiliate of IS, have targeted police, army soldiers and Egypt’s Christian minority.