(AFP PHOTO/SAID KHATIB)
The armed forces in Sinai arrested and referred to prosecution at least 11 suspects on Sunday night after attacks on security checkpoints and civil defence departments.
Unknown assailants attacked five security checkpoints in the Al-Arish area in Sinai on Saturday and early on Sunday, leaving one security personnel dead and four injured.
Mahmoud Hamdy Abdel Karim was shot in the head by unknown assailants; he was referred to the intensive care unit where he later died. Abdel Karim was shot on duty in front of Al-Arish General Hospital, which he was guarding.
Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim expressed his condolences for Abdel Karim’s family, in a statement by the ministry.
Three security personnel were injured when a car stopped in front of them and masked gunmen shot at them; eye witnesses stated that the incident resembled the murder of Coptic priest Mina Abud Sharubiyin of the Al-Masaeed church several days ago.
The three personnel, Hamada Fekry Gaafar, Ahmed Mohamed Salama and Khaled Salem Morsi were referred to hospital upon the attack.
Officer Magdy Meligy Abozaid was shot by sniper weapons at the headquarters of the Civil Defence Department of the North Sinai Security Directorate and was taken to a hospital in Cairo by helicopter.
“The security forces are exerting efforts to impose stability and security in the country and arrest these assailants,” the interior ministry’s statement read.
The Sinai security directorate refused to release information about the casualties among officers.
The directorate confirmed that the Rafah border crossing was still closed from both sides due to the turbulent security situation in the peninsula.
Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Al-Beltagy appeared in a video saying that what is happening in Sinai is a response to the “military coup”.
“We don’t control what is happening on the ground… these attacks will stop the second Al-Sisi retracts this coup, corrects the situation and when President Morsi returns to his authorities and duties,” Al-Beltagy told foreign correspondents.
Army spokesman Ahmed Ali said in a press conference on Monday that the army had the ability to restore security in Sinai and were in the process of pursuing and prosecuting assailants.
Additional reporting by Nasser Al-Azzazy
