An Egyptian court issued preliminary death sentences against seven defendants involved in attacking a hotel in Giza near the capital Cairo in 2016.
The official MENA news agency reported that the defendants were accused of leading an outlawed group, supplying it with firearms and money as well as attacking the hotel.
The seven, who are among 26 others, also face charges of illegal possession of weapons and ammunition in addition to attacking police forces and vandalizing public property during the period of mid-2015 to February 13, 2016.
Since the military ousted former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, there has been increase in the number of terror attacks in the country in response to mass protests against his rule and his outlawed Muslim Brotherhood groups.
Terror attacks killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers in restive North Sinai province notheeast of Cairo before they gradually extended to other provinces, where dozens of civilians were killed.
The court set June 22 to issue its final verdict against all defendants.
