High-ranking security official injured in North Sinai blast - agency

Wednesday 06-04-2016 04:00 PM

Archive photo of Sinai, REUTERS

CAIRO, Apr 6 (Aswat Masriya) - The assistant director of the North Sinai security directorate was injured on Wednesday in an explosion on al-Arish-Qantara road, state-run news agency MENA reported citing a security source.

The source said that a roadside bomb went off as security forces were on patrol to secure a cash transport vehicle.

He added that the blast led to the injury of the assistant director of North Sinai security directorate, Major General Yasser Hafez, according to MENA.

Militancy inside Egypt has seen a significant rise since the military ouster of former president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, following mass protests against his rule. North Sinai has been at the epicenter of this insurgency. 

According to separate statements by the armed forces over the past year alone, hundreds of suspected militants have been killed and hundreds more arrested in multiple security campaigns launched by the army.

Aswat Masriya could not independently verify the content of these statements. Anti-terrorism legislation imposes heavy fines on news organisations that contradict official statements.

facebook comments