Egypt sentences 6 alleged Islamists to life over violence

CAIRO – Egypt’s state news agency says a court has sentenced six alleged Muslim Brotherhood members to life in prison over charges including the attempted murder of soldiers and police.

MENA says Tuesday’s ruling by the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced four other defendants to 15 years on similar charges, including belonging to a terrorist group, murder and planning attacks against the state. Another two defendants got five years in prison.

The verdict can be appealed.

The Muslim Brotherhood won a series of free elections after Egypt’s 2011 uprising, and a senior Brotherhood figure, Mohammed Morsi, was elected president in 2012.

A year later, the military overthrew Morsi amid mass protests against his rule. Authorities have since arrested thousands of Brotherhood members and branded it a terrorist organization.