Forty-nine security personnel, 31 of which are members of the police force, were killed during the first three months of 2016, according to a report published by the Regional Center for Strategic Studies.
The report attributed the increased death rate to militants increased action targeting security personnel.
While the number of casualties attributable to the Armed Forces has decreased, the number of those killed in the police force has increased, according to the centre.
The number of organised attacks has surpassed random attacks, according the report, with most attacks occuring in North Sinai.
Sinai has become the scene of frequent clashes between militants and state security forces. The insurgency in the peninsula peaked following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
In one of the largest recent attacks, 15 police officers and soldiers were killed in March when “Sinai Province” militants detonated a truck bomb at a police checkpoint in Al-Arish.
“Sinai Province” also claimed they stormed the security checkpoint following the attack to seize weapons.
There was a clear decrease in the number of casualties in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, 70 and 69 were killed, respectively.
Daily News Egypt contacted the Ministry of Interior to confirm the Regional Center for Strategic Studies report. However, a Ministry of Interior representative refused to comment. An Armed Forces’ spokesperson stated it is not entitled to provide such information to the media.
