8 policemen, 1 civilian killed in terror attacks in Egypt

Heavily-armed militants linked to ISIS today targeted two police checkpoints using an explosive-laden garbage truck and RPGs, killing eight policemen and one civilian, the latest attack in Egypt's restive North Sinai.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Interior said that about 20 terrorists participated in the attack on al-Matafi checkpoint in Al-Arish city.
The terrorists attacked the security checkpoint with rocket-propelled grenades, a car bomb and heavy weapons, killing seven policemen and one civilian, the statement said.
They also planted bombs around the checkpoint, it added.
Six policemen and six civilians were injured during the attack and they were shifted to a nearby hospital, according to the statement.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The statement said the forces were currently conducting a combing operation in the area to arrest the culprits.
In a separate attack, "another terrorist group" targeted al-Masaeed checkpoint in Al-Arish. The assault was foiled by security forces, who forced terrorists to flee.
One conscript was killed during the attack.
The attack on el-Masaeed checkpoint was carried out by members of Ansar Beit el-Maqdes, a Sinai-based militant group which pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2014.
Egypt's North Sinai has been the stage for many terrorist attacks since the January 2011 revolution that toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks, mainly targeting police and military officials, increased after the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule. Hundreds of security personnel have been killed since then.
The military has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip.