Islamic State sees dollar signs in Egypt
As the Islamic State and its affiliates are forced out of Syria and Iraq, their recent bank robbery in North Sinai province indicates they might be turning to targets in Egypt to refill their coffers.
A series of deadly terrorist attacks in Egypt's North Sinai province have citizens fearing even worse violence is to come.
The most recent attack came Oct. 16 in the province's capital, el-Arish, when the Islamic State-affiliated Wilayat Sinai robbed a bank, leaving eight dead and taking $1 million (17 million Egyptian pounds). Among the dead were three policemen and five civilians, including the bank guard. Officials said 16 other people were injured and one person was taken hostage.
That Monday morning, three unmarked vehicles (two cars and a pickup truck) carrying 20 Wilayat Sinai terrorists arrived at the downtown branch of Al-Ahli state bank. They deployed quickly and efficiently, an eyewitness told Al-Monitor.
Hassan al-Shorbaji, an el-Arish resident, told Al-Monitor he was about 100 yards from the bank. "I was surprised to see masked men holding automatic shotguns," he said. "Some of them were carrying anti-tank [rocket propelled grenade launchers] and standing at the roadside."
