Cairo: Twenty-two Islamists in Egypt were sentenced to death on Wednesday for attacking a police station in the violence following the ouster of then president Mohamed Morsi in a coup in 2013.
The defendants were accused of attacking Kerdasa police station, killing a policeman, attempted killing and dealing violently with police personnel and possessing unlicensed weapons.
Thousands of protesters, Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members have been rounded up and put on trial since the army deposed Islamist ex-president Morsi in July, 2013 following massive street protests against his rule.
A court on Monday sentenced supreme leader of the Muslim Brotherhood group Mohamed Badie and 13 other leaders to death.
The 14 defendants were accused of establishing an 'operation room' to direct their supporters as part of plans to defy the state and spread violence and chaos following the dispersal of the sit-ins in August, 2013 by police.
Badie is currently facing a number of trials for violent acts committed by Muslim Brotherhood supporters.
He was sentenced to death before in some cases but the sentences were later reduced to life imprisonment.
Morsi himself is currently in prison over charges of killing peaceful protesters, espionage, escaping from prison during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and insulting the judiciary. He has not been sentenced in any case so far.
