Egypt sentences top militant, 36 others, to death

ISTANBUL

An Egyptian court on Monday sentenced a top militant and 36 others to death over their involvement in several attacks in the country.

The court in the capital Cairo sentenced Hisham Ashmawy, an ex-military officer turned militant, and 36 others over 14 attacks.

Egyptian authorities accuse Ashmawy, locally known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, of taking part in the attacks, including one in which 28 soldiers were killed in 2014.

He was also accused of targeting an Italian consulate in the country and an assassination attempt against Egypt's attorney-general.

In May 2019, Ashmawy was handed to Egypt from Libya by a militia affiliated with Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara

ISTANBUL

An Egyptian court on Monday sentenced a top militant and 36 others to death over their involvement in several attacks in the country.

The court in the capital Cairo sentenced Hisham Ashmawy, an ex-military officer turned militant, and 36 others over 14 attacks.

Egyptian authorities accuse Ashmawy, locally known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, of taking part in the attacks, including one in which 28 soldiers were killed in 2014.

He was also accused of targeting an Italian consulate in the country and an assassination attempt against Egypt's attorney-general.

In May 2019, Ashmawy was handed to Egypt from Libya by a militia affiliated with Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara