An Egyptian Court has on Tuesday, August 27, sentenced six people to death for attacking a security checkpoint north of Cairo and killing a policeman.

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As well being found guilty of attacking police and army forces, the defendants were convicted of joining a terrorist group.

They attacked a security checkpoint in Al-Khosous district in Qalubiya province, killed a non-commissioned police officer and attempted to kill other officers, prosecutors said.

Egypt has seen a surge in militant attacks since the army led the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.

Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members and followers have since been rounded up and tried in different cases.

Hundreds were handed death sentences in mass trials.

The Egyptian government has accused the Islamist group of involvement in a wave of militant violence in the country and designated it a terrorist organisation.

The group has denied the charge and accused authorities of oppression.