News / Egypt

Gunmen kill five police officers in Egypt’s Qalyubia, Sinai

Monday, 29 February 2016 10:34 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 29 February 2016 10:33 AM ]

Egyptian police forces stand guard on Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square, January 25, 2016, as the country marks the fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising. (Photo by AFP)

Takfiri militants have shot and killed five Egyptian security forces during two surprise attacks in the country’s northern province of Qalyubia and the troubled Sinai Peninsula.

A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said unidentified assailants fatally shot four policemen in Qalyubia, situated about 35 kilometers (21 miles) northeast of the capital, Cairo, on Sunday as the latter were conducting an anti-drug operation in the area.

The source added that a citizen got caught in the exchange of gunfire between Egyptian police forces and armed men, and lost his life.

Police have launched a search operation to arrest the attackers.

Separately, masked gunmen shot dead an Egyptian police officer as he stood in front of his house in the city of el-Arish, situated 344 kilometers (214 miles) northeast of the capital. The victim was later identified as Captain Abdullah Khalil.

The Takfiri Velayat Sinai Militant group later claimed responsibility for the act of violence.

Sinai Peninsula has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, following a deadly terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 33 soldiers.

Over the past years, militants have been carrying out anti-government activities and deadly attacks, taking advantage of the turmoil caused in Egypt after democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the military in July 2013.

Velayat Sinai terrorists have carried out most of the attacks, mainly targeting the army and police.

In November 2014, the group pledged allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, which is mainly wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria.

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