Deadly attack targets Sinai

Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a security checkpoint in the city of Al-Arish in Egypt as the country marked Eid al-Fitr holiday. Eight policemen were killed in the attack on a checkpoint in the restive Sinai Peninsula. “Terrorist elements targeted a checkpoint west of El-Arish early this morning... The exchange of fire killed five terrorist elements and eight police were martyred,” an Egyptian interior ministry statement said. 

Some militants escaped and security forces are following “their movements”, the ministry added. A security source said reinforcements had been dispatched to the checkpoint near El-Arish, capital of North Sinai province. “The checkpoint is currently surrounded by the army and police,” he said.  Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry statement affirmed the Kingdom’s firm solidarity and tireless efforts to enhance security, extending deep condolences to the families and relatives of the victims.

“Bahrain rejects all forms of violence, extremism and terror- ism regardless its motives and justifications,” the statement said. Three members of the Central Security Force, under the control of the interior ministry, were also wounded in the attack and taken to El-Arish public hospital, a medical source said.  Egyptian state television said there were fears the death toll could rise amid reports of attacks on multiple checkpoints.

It broadcast still images it said were of the slain attackers. Egyptian social media users paid tribute online to the policemen killed as people were celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan.   “It’s very hard for a mother waiting for her son to ring her and send her Eid greetings to receive a call that he has been killed,” prominent actor Mahmoud al-Bezzawy wrote on Twitter.   The interior ministry did not release the identities of the slain officers. 

The interior ministry said last month it had intelligence that militants were planning attacks on “important and vital facilities”, as well as prominent figures in El-Arish. In late 2017, North Sinai was the scene of the deadliest attack in Egypt’s modern history when militants killed more than 300 worshippers at a mosque, without any group claiming responsibility.

In February 2018, the army launched a nationwide offensive against the Islamists focused mainly on the North Sinai. According to official figures, around 650 militants have been killed since the start of the operation.