16 policemen killed in egypt shootout with militants
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

In A Rare Flare-Up Outside The Sinai Peninsula

16 policemen killed in Egypt shootout with militants

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today 16 policemen killed in Egypt shootout with militants

An Egyptian armoured vehicle is seen on the road
Road to El Wahat El Bahariya - AFP

Sixteen Egyptian policemen were killed in a shootout with militants on the road between Cairo and the Bahariya oasis in the Western Desert, the interior ministry said Saturday, in a rare flare-up outside the Sinai Peninsula.

Funerals were held in several provinces for those killed, whose coffins were wrapped in Egyptian flags.

The official toll from the interior ministry was lower than a figure given earlier by security and medical sources of at least 35 Egyptian police officers killed in the clashes which began on Friday night.

The ministry said it had sent police to the area, less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) southwest of Cairo, after learning that militants were there "hiding, training, and preparing to carry out terrorist operations".

As the forces approached, the militants opened fire with heavy weapons, triggering a shootout that lasted for several hours and also left 13 police officers injured and one missing, the ministry said.

There has not yet been a claim of responsibility. A fake claim in the name of the small extremist group Hasam, reported by multiple local media, had spread on social media soon after the shootout.

Authorities are fighting the Egyptian branch of the Islamic State group, which has increased its attacks killing hundred of soldiers and police in the north of the Sinai peninsula, more than 500 kilometres (300 miles) away from the latest violence.

- Armoured vehicles -

On Saturday armoured vehicles were seen parked on the road close to where the incident took place along with about 15 ambulances.

The ministry said that 15 militants were killed as security forces chased them into the desert after the clashes, adding that the search for suspects was continuing.

The public prosecutor has ordered the state security prosecution to start an investigation into the incident, an official said.

According to a source close to the security services, the police convoy was hit by rocket fire. The attackers also used explosive devices.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was scheduled Saturday to attend events in the northern town of El Alamein on Egypt's Mediterranean coast to mark the 75th anniversary of the pivotal Allied World War II victory in the Battle of El Alamein.

But an AFP reporter did not see the strongman leader at an open-air ceremony involving foreign dignitaries, and his office said he had cancelled his participation in a number of other engagements.

Sisi's office, though, said he visited El Alamein Military Museum with some of the dignitaries, and gave a speech commemorating the battle and stressing the Middle East "is facing unprecedented crises"

Since the army in 2013 removed elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, extremist groups have increased their attacks on the military and police.

Condemnations of the latest attack came in from the Middle East and Europe, with France -- where Sisi is due to visit next week -- pledging solidarity after the losses for Egypt's security force in "the fight against terrorism".

The Muslim Brotherhood, once Egypt's largest opposition movement, has long denied involvement in the attacks on the authorities.

Morsi was elected Egypt's first civilian president in 2012, but the army overthrew him a year later following mass protests against the Islamist's divisive rule.

- Competing wings -

Since then, an extensive crackdown on the group has left it in disarray with competing wings that have disagreed on whether to resort to violence, after police bloodily suppressed their protests.

Analysts say a section of the Brotherhood has encouraged armed assaults against the police.

Hasam has claimed multiple attacks since 2016 on police, officials and judges in Cairo.

Earlier this month, Sisi extended for a second time a state of emergency first declared after bombings claimed by IS in two churches that killed at least 45 people in April.

Source: AFP

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

16 policemen killed in egypt shootout with militants 16 policemen killed in egypt shootout with militants



GMT 13:04 2018 Wednesday ,03 October

Qureshi agreed cooperation with United States

GMT 08:37 2017 Wednesday ,09 August

Gulf diplomatic crisis splits families, dashes dreams

GMT 12:50 2015 Wednesday ,28 January

15 Israeli soldiers killed in Hezbollah missile attack

GMT 11:52 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Saudi university to open driving school for women

GMT 03:50 2017 Sunday ,23 April

Drought-hit Somalia moves closer

GMT 09:30 2017 Saturday ,08 July

Law enforcement forces in N. Sinai in manhunt

GMT 09:20 2017 Sunday ,29 October

World downhill champion Stuhec out of Olympics

GMT 09:08 2017 Tuesday ,15 August

Iranian drone buzzes US aircraft over Gulf

GMT 08:28 2017 Friday ,07 July

Beauty & hair magazine

GMT 12:10 2015 Thursday ,26 November

UAE Space Agency launches Planet Mars contest

GMT 14:27 2018 Thursday ,01 November

German businesses support closer EU-Russia ties

GMT 14:56 2018 Monday ,08 October

Barca held again as Sevilla lead La Liga

GMT 22:20 2012 Thursday ,08 November

RMA launches manufacturing plant in Bahrain

GMT 18:27 2014 Saturday ,27 December

Internet outage in area between Cairo, Kafr el-Dawwar

GMT 10:40 2018 Monday ,24 September

South Korea-Japan summit to be held

GMT 09:56 2018 Tuesday ,18 September

Gulf Air receives Thales InFlyt Experience officials

GMT 22:52 2018 Wednesday ,05 September

Porcshe GT3 back for 10th season
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday