Egypt condemns man to death for Cairo church attack

An Egyptian man was sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday for a deadly attack on a Cairo church in 2017, a judicial source said.

A Cairo criminal court sentenced the man for "murdering nine Copts and a policeman, possessing weapons and forming a terrorist group linked to IS," the source said.

The attack which killed 10 people was claimed by the Islamic State group. The attack targeted the Saint Mina Coptic church in Helwan, on the southern outskirts of Cairo.

According to the authorities, the attacker was armed with an assault rifle, ammunition and a bomb he intended to detonate at the church.

Two others were sentenced in absentia to life in prison, four received 10-year terms and two were given three years each in prison. Another defendant was acquitted. 

All of those convicted have the possibility to appeal.

(With inputs from AFP)