Bahrain condemns terror attack in Egypt

TDT | Manama

Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Egypt which targeted an Egyptian military armoured vehicle in the south of the city of Bir al-Abd in the North Sinai Governorate. In a statement, Bahrain’s foreign ministry extended deepest condolences and sympathy to the martyred servicemen’s families and wished the injured in the cowardly terrorist attack quick recovery.

The Kingdom affirmed solidarity with Egypt against all forms of terrorism and in all its efforts to maintain security and stability in the region. The statement further reiterated Bahrain’s firm stance against violence, extremism and terrorism, uring regional and international concerted efforts to eradicate the scourge of terror that threatens the entire world.

Bomb attack

Ten Egyptian army members including an officer were killed or wounded when a bomb exploded in an armoured vehicle south, an Egyptian military spokesman said in a statement. He did not specify how many had been killed in the attack, which not immediately claimed by any group.

Militants loyal to Islamic State are active in the strategic border region. Egypt has been fighting Islamist insurgents who have killed hundreds of police and soldiers in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula since the ousting of Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following mass protests against his rule.

Militants have also carried out attacks elsewhere in the country. An Egyptian policeman and seven suspected militants were killed on April 14 in an exchange of gunfire after the ministry of interior received information about potential Easter attacks against Coptic Christians, the ministry said, adding that three other policemen had also been wounded.

The military and police launched a major campaign against militant groups in 2018, focusing on the Sinai Peninsula as well as southern areas and the border with Libya.