Egypt hangs five for murder and theft: ministry

By AFP

Egypt

APR 26, 2015 LISTEN

A member of the Egyptian security stands guard outside the police academy during a trial in the capital, Cairo, on April 21, 2015. By Mohamed El-Shahed (AFP/File)

Cairo (AFP) - Authorities in Egypt have hanged five people convicted of murder and theft, the interior ministry said on Sunday.

They were executed in a prison in the southern province of Assyut after the appeals process had been exhausted, a ministry statement said.

No more details were supplied about the individual cases.

Dozens of Islamists have been sentenced to death over political violence since the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, but only one has been executed, in March.

A court sentenced him to death after he was caught on camera taking part in an attack on rival protesters who were thrown off a water tower.