A conscript and a police officer were injured during an attempt to bomb Sheikh Zuweid Police Station Saturday morning, as two car bombs approached the police station, reported state-run MENA.
Aswat Masriya reported that four civilians were also injured as a result of the attack.
The efforts exerted by the Egyptian army towards countering militancy aims to “ultimately eliminate terrorism”. As a result, the efforts have left many from both sides dead and injured across Egypt, particularly in the restive Sinai Peninsula.
The victims include civilians killed for allegedly collaborating with the Egyptian army. Sinai based militant group ‘State of Sinai’ claimed last week the decapitation of eight civilians in operations implemented in different parts of North Sinai during the past month.
Conversely, 10 suspects were arrested and 20 hideouts were destroyed during military raids on militant hideouts in North Sinai’s Arish and Sheikh Zuweid on Friday, reported MENA.
A separate attack on Ain Shams police station in Greater Cairo took place Friday and was claimed by militant group Ajnad Masr. The attack left police officer Mostafa Ahmed Fouad Shemais killed, and injured nine others.
According to Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the officer died as he was transferred to the hospital.
The most recent attack launched by the group was on the fourth anniversary of the 25 January Revolution, in the Alf Maskan area of eastern Cairo, which left two police officers injured. However the groups claimed there were more injuries that went unreported, though the toll was not clear.
Bomb attacks by different militant groups, targeting mainly security facilities have become a frequent occurrence.
Ajnad Misr and ‘State of Sinai’ have both reiterated that they will take vengeance on security personnel on different occasions. Ajnad Masr’s operations have mainly taken place in Greater Cairo, while ‘State of Sinai’ are more focused on North Sinai, with fewer operations outside the peninsula.
The most recent large scale attack was implemented in North Sinai on 29 January, targeting security personnel and facilities. The attack was later claimed by ‘State of Sinai’, leaving at least 30 dead. However the group claims to have killed “hundreds”.
Another coordinated large scale attack was launched on 24 October in North Sinai, and left at least 30 dead as well. However several security measures were taken following the attack, including the establishing of a buffer zone to destroy smuggling tunnels leading in and out of Sinai. A limited state of emergency for a period of six months was also implemented in North Sinai, which will end on 25 April.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi also issued a decree referring those accused include crimes against the state’s “vital” facilities to military prosecution, whereby vital facilities encompass power stations, networks and towers; gas and oil fields; rail lines; road networks and bridges.
Following both attacks, Al-Sisi referred to the involvement of “foreign elements”.
