Egyptian police officer shot by unknown militants in northern Sinai

Published June 20th, 2016 - 12:30 GMT
Egyptian security forces are seen in northern Sinai, where a battle against Daesh-affiliated insurgents is ongoing. (AFP/File)
Egyptian security forces are seen in northern Sinai, where a battle against Daesh-affiliated insurgents is ongoing. (AFP/File)

A policeman in the Northern Sinai town of Arish was killed on Sunday night after anonymous militants shot him, an interior ministry media official said.

An interior ministry statement on the ministry's official Facebook page stated that the militants fired the gunshots towards the low-ranking policeman in front of his house near the Arish police station.

Another policeman was killed and another injured earlier on Sunday in a roadside bomb explosion in central Sinai, the interior ministry said.

The explosion took place as security personnel passed by al-Hasna Sadr Hitan road, in the district of al-Hasna police station.

Militancy inside Egypt has seen a significant rise since the military ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule.

Most of the insurgent activities which target security personnel and facilities occur in the restive Sinai peninsula, particularly in North Sinai.

The group known as "Sinai Province," affiliated with Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq, claims most of the attacks in the area.

Military and police forces have embarked on several security campaigns in North Sinai aimed to fight militants. 

According to separate statements by the armed forces, Egyptian security forces have killed hundreds of militants in Sinai over the past two years.

Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the content of these statements. Egyptian Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organisations that contradict official statements.

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