Four extremists killed in Egypt

At least four extremists were killed and 36 others arrested Saturday in a security raid on their hideouts in major cities in Egypt's North Sinai province, Xinuha reported citing a security source.

"The police-military raid in Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid also resulted in busting a weapon warehouse that has two machine guns, two sniper guns, two Kalashinkov rifles and various ammunition," the source said, noting that Tawfik Abou Mleih, a leading extremist Islamist, was among those arrested.

The security raid also defused an explosive device targeting military vehicles in southern Arish, while in Rafah it destroyed eight smuggling tunnels, 22 huts, three warehouses, four houses and one vehicle belonging to extremists.

Military spokesperson Colonel Ahmed Ali said in a statement that 20 kg of heroine was also seized in the raid which is part of a massive security campaign in the Sinai Peninsula where terrorist attacks escalated following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July last year.

Two extremists were killed in another raid Friday evening in the restive peninsula, whereas extremists shot dead a soldier a day earlier.

On Wednesday, an extremist Islamist group, Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt), launched a series of blasts outside Cairo University, leaving at least one policeman killed and several others injured.

Since Morsi's removal, extremist groups have been launching terrorist attacks against security personnel and facilities in the Sinai Peninsula, the capital Cairo and some other provinces, leaving dozens killed and hundreds injured.