CAIRO, May 18 (Aswat Masriya) - An Egyptian court sentenced a man to death and three others to life in prison on Monday for accusations of forming a "terror cell", the state agency MENA reported. 

This comes one day after six people were executed on Sunday at dawn by Egyptian authorities after being sentenced by a military tribunal, also on "terror" related charges. 

The criminal court in Mansoura issued the death sentence today after referring the case to the Grand Mufti in March. 

A referral to the mufti to issue his opinion is a step that must be taken within Egypt's court system ahead of handing a death sentence, even though the mufti's opinion is advisory and is not binding. 

There is room for appeal when it comes to a primary death sentence, like today's. Even if the defendants do not appeal the sentence, prosecutors automatically do. 

The verdict was issued amid heightened security presence around the court. Bomb experts were combing the vicinity, searching for explosive devices. 

The four people on trial were arrested in August and are said to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood, who formed the cell to "eliminate" people who oppose the Brotherhood. 

Bombings and shootings targeting security forces have surged since the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule.

Mursi himself was referred to the Grand Mufti by a Cairo court on Saturday, alongside dozens others, including leading Brotherhood figures. 

Egypt listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation in December 2013 and insists it is behind the wave of militancy which has targeted security personnel since July 2013. The Brotherhood continuously denies the accusations.