World

2 killed in suicide blast, 4 beheaded in Egypt's N. Sinai: Report

July 18, 2019
Egypt's security forces are seen in North Sinai in this file photo. — Reuters
Egypt's security forces are seen in North Sinai in this file photo. — Reuters

CAIRO — A suicide bombing killed at least two people in Egypt's North Sinai region on Thursday, a day after four headless bodies were found there, security and medical sources said.

The victims of the bombing were a civilian and a member of the security forces, the sources said.

An Egyptian military spokesman said in a statement that security forces killed the bomber before he reached a checkpoint, which was his intended target. The spokesman confirmed that a member of the armed forces was killed after the bomber's explosive belt detonated.

Daesh (the so-called IS) claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq agency, saying five members of the security forces were killed or injured.

Militants, some linked to Daesh, are active in the Sinai Peninsula, and security forces launched a major operation there in February last year.

Thursday's bombing took place at a car park in the town of Sheikh Zuweid, near the border with the Gaza Strip, a security source and a medical source said.

Separately, two security sources said four headless bodies were found in an empty street in the North Sinai town of Bir Al-Abd on Wednesday. Their families had reported that the four men, aged 23 to 51, had been kidnapped, the sources said.

A security source and three residents said that militants stopped several cars before taking five people away and forcing them to lie down on the ground. They killed four and kidnapped the fifth, the security source and the residents said.

Daesh claimed responsibility for the beheadings via the Amaq agency, saying the four were spies for the Egyptian military. A security source said the security services were trying to find and identify the perpetrators.

Egypt's State Information Service could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Egyptian military, which launched its campaign in Sinai after a militant attack in November 2017 on a mosque in which hundreds of worshipers died, says hundreds of militants have been killed in the campaign. — Reuters


July 18, 2019
35 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
2 hours ago

India opposition leader Kejriwal to remain in jail in corruption case

World
5 hours ago

Baltimore bridge collapse: Divers find two bodies in submerged truck

World
5 hours ago

US urges fair legal process for India opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal