The Sunday attacks on a residential area and military camp in Al-Arish in North Sinai was widely condemned, amid calls for bringing to justice those responsible for the attacks.
The mortar strikes have claimed the lives of seven civilians and one soldier and injured 28, said a Sunday statement by armed forces spokesman Mohamed Ghoneim.
Al-Dostour Party strongly condemned the “terrorist” attacks, describing those responsible for them as “criminal organisations” in a statement released on Monday.
The party called on the government to be “more transparent” about the current situation in North Sinai. It also requested the government make public the results of its continuous confrontations with terrorist organisations in the Peninsula throughout the past year.
Al-Dostour Party also renewed its calls for maintaining security within North Sinai and swiftly beginning developmental projects in the border governorate. It called for respecting citizens’ rights in order to “guarantee popular solidarity with efforts exerted to face terrorist organisations.”
The political party stressed the importance of “firmly” chasing those responsible for the attacks and bringing them to justice.
The prosecution began its investigation into the attacks Monday, reported state-run news agency MENA. The judicial body summoned the Criminal Evidence Administration to examine the shrapnel resulting from the explosions. It is also began interrogating eye-witnesses and those injured.
The attacks have been widely condemned by Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb’s cabinet as well as the state’s Grand Mufti Shawky Allam.
North Sinai Governor Al-Sayed Harhour announced financial compensation worth EGP 10,000 for the families of those killed and an EGP 5,000 for those injured, reported MENA.
Egypt has been adopting the rhetoric of waging a “war on terrorism” since the military-backed ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi last July. Morsi’s ouster was closely followed by a militant insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula targeting security officials. Such attacks have prompted a heavy military presence within the peninsula.
