This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30030767

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Egyptian navy vessel 'attacked by gunmen' in Mediterranean Egypt: Navy ship attacked by gunmen in Mediterranean
(about 9 hours later)
Gunmen have attacked an Egyptian navy ship in the Mediterranean Sea, state media say, a day after a car bomb injured 10 in the Sinai Peninsula. Gunmen have attacked an Egyptian navy ship in the Mediterranean Sea, state media say, leaving five servicemen injured and eight more missing at sea.
The vessel reportedly caught fire in the assault some 70km (45 miles) off the northern port of Damietta. The vessel reportedly caught fire in the assault, some 70km (45 miles) off the northern port of Damietta.
Several soldiers were wounded in the attack, with a number of gunmen arrested, the state news agency said. Four boats were used in the assault by "terrorists" and 32 attackers were arrested, the military said.
The Egyptian navy frequently intercepts migrant smugglers and drug traffickers off its Mediterranean coast.The Egyptian navy frequently intercepts migrant smugglers and drug traffickers off its Mediterranean coast.
The army is also facing an Islamist insurgency in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where jihadists have stepped up attacks against police and soldiers since the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi last year. The army is also facing an Islamist insurgency in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where jihadists have stepped up attacks against police and soldiers since the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi last year.
However, direct attacks on Egyptian naval vessels are unusual.
The group behind the latest attack has not yet been identified.The group behind the latest attack has not yet been identified.
Gunfire battle 'Air force deployed'
According to Reuters, four gunmen were killed after they opened fire at the navy vessel from a fishing boat on Wednesday.According to Reuters, four gunmen were killed after they opened fire at the navy vessel from a fishing boat on Wednesday.
The official state-run Mena news agency said 20 of the attackers had been arrested, and three of their boats were destroyed in the exchange of fire that followed. Local media reported that the Egyptian air force had been deployed to deal with the attackers.
Late on Tuesday, a car bomb detonated outside a fast-food restaurant in the town of El-Arish, north of the Sinai Peninsula. Those captured were being interrogated, the military said.
Security officials said they were already in the process of evacuating residents at the time of the blast after a stolen car in the area had aroused suspicion. The attack came after a car bomb was found outside a fast-food restaurant in the coastal town of El-Arish, in the Sinai Peninsula, late on Tuesday.
One interior ministry official, speaking to AFP, said the bomb had been detonated remotely by police in a controlled explosion, but that some people were injured by shattered glass. Security officials said they were evacuating residents when the bomb exploded.
One interior ministry official, speaking to AFP, said the bomb had been detonated remotely by police in a controlled explosion, and that some people were injured by shattered glass.
"We blew up the car remotely. There was a half a tonne of explosives," Hani Abdel Latif said."We blew up the car remotely. There was a half a tonne of explosives," Hani Abdel Latif said.
The latest attacks come several days after Egyptian jihadist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) militants, who have taken control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.The latest attacks come several days after Egyptian jihadist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) militants, who have taken control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis - or Champions of Jerusalem - has been behind a string of attacks on military and police targets in its stronghold in Sinai.Ansar Beit al-Maqdis - or Champions of Jerusalem - has been behind a string of attacks on military and police targets in its stronghold in Sinai.
A three-month state of emergency was declared there last month after 31 soldiers were killed in two separate militant attacks near El-Arish on 24 October.A three-month state of emergency was declared there last month after 31 soldiers were killed in two separate militant attacks near El-Arish on 24 October.
In a separate development on Wednesday, Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi signed a new law allowing for the extradition of foreign nationals sentenced or charged in Egypt.
It is believed the law may pave the way for the release of three non-Egyptian Al-Jazeera journalists, including Australian Peter Greste, who have been held for almost a year.