EGYPT: Militants launch several attacks against police stations, security and army checkpoints in main northern cities of Rafah and El-Arish overnight, killing six Egyptians and wounded 11 others
Record ID:
860302
EGYPT: Militants launch several attacks against police stations, security and army checkpoints in main northern cities of Rafah and El-Arish overnight, killing six Egyptians and wounded 11 others
- Title: EGYPT: Militants launch several attacks against police stations, security and army checkpoints in main northern cities of Rafah and El-Arish overnight, killing six Egyptians and wounded 11 others
- Date: 22nd July 2013
- Summary: BLOOD STAINS ON THE SEATS OF CAR
- Embargoed: 6th August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt
- City:
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Conflict,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3VVYSILU604783D9S7OZRTGN0
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Six Egyptians were killed and 11 others wounded in several attacks by militants in the Sinai peninsula near Egypt's borders with Israel and the Palestinian Gaza strip, medical sources said on Monday (July 22).
Two civilians, two army officers and two policemen were killed in at least 10 attacks in the province's main northern cities of Rafah and El-Arish overnight against police stations and security and army checkpoints, according to the sources.
Gunfire was heard in the streets of El-Arish overnight, near the National Bank of Egypt, where an army officer was killed.
Local residents could be seen taking cover behind vehicles on the street as gunfire rang out on the street.
A man that appeared to be wounded was assisted by locals. Several cars were destroyed, with broken windows and bullet casings littered around. Blood stains covered the front seats of one car.
Local resident, Selim Salama, said an army officer was killed as result of a bullet in the neck.
"We heard gunfire near a police station and then heard more gunfire near the traffic light down the street. We also heard gunfire near a police club and that means that it was a coordinated attack. The soldier that died was wearing a helmet and was shot in the neck by a sniper. He was shot in front of the National Bank of Egypt. Nobody in North Sinai is happy with the situation we are in now," said Selim Salama.
The latest violence was the worst so far this month in terms of the number of attacks and victims in a single day.
The lawless North Sinai region is a base for hardline Islamists, who in the last two years have stepped up their attacks on security forces, exploiting a vacuum following the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak.
The violence spiked after the army's overthrow of elected Islamist president Mohamed Mursi on July 3. Militants have since attacked several security checkpoints and other targets almost daily, killing at least 20 people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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