Soldier Killed, 72 Suspects Arrested In Egypt’s Sinai

Militants killed an Egyptian soldier in Sinai Wednesday, while security forces made 72 arrests in a sweep of the peninsula in connection to a bomb attack, officials said.

The soldier was killed in the Tamada area of central Sinai, a medic and a security official said, adding he was shot in the head.

Security forces, meanwhile, rounded up 72 suspects following Tuesday’s bomb attack targeting a security convoy that killed two people, including a civilian, and wounded five. The suspects were arrested in the town of Rafah, on the Gaza border.

The convoy was targeted as it travelled from Rafah towards the North Sinai provincial capital El-Arish.

Egypt’s army has poured troops and armour into Sinai to crush Islamic militant activity, which has surged since Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was overthrown 3 July.

A nationwide crackdown on Islamists since 14 August has resulted in more than 1,000 people being killed and more than several thousand arrested.

Dozens of soldiers and policemen have also been killed in near daily attacks, particularly in Sinai.

Source : Ahram