CAIRO, Dec 17 (Aswat Masriya) – Egypt’s police academy expelled on Tuesday 40 students, accusing them of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, the ministry of interior spokesman said.

Spokesman Hany Abdel Lattif said that ongoing investigations and follow-ups revealed that "40 junior and senior students belong to the terrorist [Muslim Brotherhood] organisation," reported state-run news agency MENA. He added that the students' first and second degree relatives take part in "the organisation's terrorist practices."

The police academy's disciplinary council expelled two students last year after declaring them members of the Muslim Brotherhood, based on tweets they had issued.

The Muslim Brotherhood has come under attack since the military ouster of its leader Mohamed Mursi from the presidency in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule. The military-installed regime has since then rounded up thousands of Brotherhood members and supporters and killed hundreds of protesters in confrontations with security forces.

Egypt listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation last December and insists it is behind the stringent wave of militancy which has targeted security personnel since Mursi's ouster. The Brotherhood continuously denies the accusations, distancing itself from one militant attack after the other.