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Egypt's Sinai Peninsula hit by deadly bomb attacks | Egypt's Sinai Peninsula hit by deadly bomb attacks |
(about 1 month later) | |
At least 14 people have been killed in separate bomb attacks in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, security forces have said. | |
Eight people died and 45 others were injured in an explosion outside a police station in El-Arish. | |
At least six soldiers lost their lives and two were wounded in an attack on an armoured vehicle, near the northern town of Sheikh Zuweid. | |
Militants from the Sinai Province group, affiliated to Islamic State, have said they carried out the attacks. | Militants from the Sinai Province group, affiliated to Islamic State, have said they carried out the attacks. |
Sinai has become increasingly lawless since Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. Insurgents have intensified attacks since his Islamist successor Mohammed Morsi was ousted in 2013. | Sinai has become increasingly lawless since Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. Insurgents have intensified attacks since his Islamist successor Mohammed Morsi was ousted in 2013. |
North Sinai has been under a state of emergency and a curfew since October, when an attack on a checkpoint killed dozens of soldiers. | North Sinai has been under a state of emergency and a curfew since October, when an attack on a checkpoint killed dozens of soldiers. |
Major military operations in the region have so far failed to quell the violence. | Major military operations in the region have so far failed to quell the violence. |
Rubble | |
In El-Arish, residents said the neighbourhood shook as a bomb was detonated outside the police barracks. | |
"Those at the other end of town heard the explosion. It was humongous. It terrified us," said one resident who lives near the police station. | |
Witnesses said the vehicle drove through security barriers and rammed the building despite being fired on by security forces. | |
The three-storey building was badly damaged and nearby homes were also destroyed, with doors ripped off and windows shattered. | |
In a statement on its Facebook page (in Arabic), the Egyptian interior ministry said a suicide bomber driving a pick-up truck was behind the attack. | In a statement on its Facebook page (in Arabic), the Egyptian interior ministry said a suicide bomber driving a pick-up truck was behind the attack. |
"Forces opened fire at the vehicle, which consequently exploded," it added. | "Forces opened fire at the vehicle, which consequently exploded," it added. |
The death toll - which included five soldiers and a civilian - rose from six to eight as bodies were pulled from the rubble, officials said. | |
Earlier in the day, a roadside bomb struck an army vehicle at Sheikh Zuweid. The military said the attack killed an officer, a sergeant and four soldiers - revising an earlier death toll from seven to six. | |
A statement on a Twitter page attributed to the Sinai Province group read: "An armoured personnel carrier for the army of the apostates was destroyed... killing and wounding all aboard." | |
The Sinai Province group was known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis until it pledged allegiance to Islamic State in November. | The Sinai Province group was known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis until it pledged allegiance to Islamic State in November. |
It says it is seeking revenge for a police crackdown on Morsi supporters. | It says it is seeking revenge for a police crackdown on Morsi supporters. |
Since then it has carried out numerous deadly attacks on the peninsula, killing hundreds of police officers and soldiers, as well as civilians. | Since then it has carried out numerous deadly attacks on the peninsula, killing hundreds of police officers and soldiers, as well as civilians. |
Sunday's attacks bring April's death toll to at least 41. | Sunday's attacks bring April's death toll to at least 41. |