ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced 14 Islamist militants to death on Tuesday for killing policemen and soldiers during an attack on a police station in North Sinai last year, a court official said.

The ruling may add to tension in the volatile region bordering Israel, where fighting between security forces and militants has intensified since August 5 when 16 border guards were killed in an attack blamed on Islamist groups.

(Reporting by Yusri Mohamed; Writing by Tamim Elyan; Editing by Louise Ireland)