Militants step up Sinai strikes on security personnel, civilians
Theories about the motivation behind an escalation of attacks in the Sinai peninsula say that terrorists could be aiming to distort Egypt’s image abroad — especially in light of an international soccer tournament — or that they might be retaliating for the trial of a high-ranking Islamist militant.
CAIRO — Recent terror attacks in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula have security forces on guard, especially as the country hosts the Africa Cup of Nations soccer competition, which is expected to draw some 50,000 tourists to six locations in Egypt this year. Security is a sensitive subject with Egyptian officials, and multiple deadly Sinai attacks in June haven't helped cultivate the image the country wants to portray.
A June 26 terrorist attack left seven policemen and four militants dead, according to an Interior Ministry announcement that day. The assault targeted a police checkpoint southwest of el-Arish in the northern Sinai Peninsula. A police statement mentioned that one of the militants died after his explosive belt detonated. The police confiscated several explosive belts, hand grenades and other weapons from the scene. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
The terror attack was the peninsula's third in June.
On June 5, militants attacked a checkpoint, resulting in the death of eight policemen and five militants, according to an Interior Ministry statement. The Islamic State-affiliated Wilayat Sinai (Province of Sinai) claimed responsibility. The next day, the ministry said, officials arrested some of the alleged attackers at a house in el-Arish. During that raid, 14 militants died. Police said they found in the militants’ possession 14 machine guns, two explosive belts and three other explosive devices.
