CAIRO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian Court sentenced four defendants to death on Monday over forming a terrorist cell, official MENA news agency reported.

The Cairo Criminal Court said the four defendants were found guilty of establishing a terrorist cell in Giza province, near Cairo.

The cell was meant to target public figures, disturb public peace and assault public and private facilities, the court ruling said.

The court also sentenced 12 cell members to 25 years in prison and 14 others to 15 years in prison.

Terrorism prevailed in Egypt since the military ousted former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in early July 2013 in response to mass protests against his 12-month reign and his currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Terrorist attacks killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers in restive North Sinai province before they gradually extended to other provinces and started to target dozens of the Coptic minority with church bombings.

Most of the attacks were claimed by the so-called Wilayat Sinai (Sinai State or Province), a Sinai-based group affiliated with the Islamic State group.