Conscript Shot Dead near Suez: Egypt Army

A Egyptian conscript was killed and three others injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a security checkpoint on the Cairo-Suez Road, Egypt’s military spokesman said Friday.

Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said on his official Facebook page that security forces “succeeded in repelling the attack after heavy exchange of fire” at the 26 kilometre checkpoint on the road.

Also Friday, masked gunmen on a motorbike shot dead an off-duty police sergeant on his way home from work in Minya, in Upper Egypt. A civilian passer-by was also killed in the attack.

Scores of police and military personnel have been killed since the popular military-led ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last year.

Attacks increased markedly following a forcible dispersal of large pro-Morsi sit-ins that left hundreds of civilians dead.

The government has also launched a heavy crackdown on Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Morsi hails, arresting hundreds and outlawing the group.

Source: Ahram Online