Cairo Criminal Court reduced Saturday death sentences on eight convicted of terrorist charges to 10 years in prison in the retrial of the “Suez terrorist cell” case.

In March 2014, the court sentenced 26 people to death and one to 15 years in prison on charges that include planning attacks on ships passing through the Suez Canal, manufacturing missiles and explosives to carry out attacks, monitoring and planning to attack security targets,and illegal possession of guns, automatic rifles, explosives and ammunition.

The case goes back to 2010 when 27 people were charged with planning attacks on the Suez Canal. They were released due to lack of evidence. They were referred back to court in November 2013.

Since the March 2014 verdict, six defendants appealed and two others, tried in absentia, were arrested. The verdict can be further appealed.

Most of the convicted were tried in absentia, and thus given the maximum penalty for their crime — the death sentence.

If the rest of the defendants hand themselves in to the authorities, they can also appeal their initial death sentences.

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