Five killed in Egypt attacks

At least four soldiers and one officer were killed and 11 others injured in two separate explosions in Egypt's restive Sinai peninsula, official sources said.

Two armoured personnel carriers were hit by explosions in North Sinai: one in Kharouba village south of Sheikh Zuwaid city while the other happened 500 metres away from Rafah police station, Xinhua quoted the sources as saying.

All the explosives devices were remotely detonated, the sources added.

The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attacks on Twitter, but the statement said 18 soldiers were killed in a series of attacks near Sheikh Zuwaid and Rafah cities.

Egypt is facing an escalating wave of anti-security forces attacks since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 following mass protests against his rule.