Army conscript injured in Sinai shooting - security sources

Monday 02-02-2015 04:23 PM
Army conscript injured in Sinai shooting - security sources

An army soldier in Sinai - Reuters

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NORTH SINAI, Feb 2 (Aswat Masriya) - Unidentified gunmen shot at an army conscript in North Sinai's al-Arish city on Monday, causing his injury, security sources said.

Sources told Aswat Masriya that the 21 year-old conscript was on duty at a south Arish checkpoint at the time of the attack. 

Militants have escalated attacks targeting security forces in Sinai, as well as other parts of the country, since the military ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, which followed mass protests against his rule.

At least 30 people were killed and 50 others were injured late Thursday in four separate attacks against security installations in the governorate. Casualties included both civilians and security personnel.

Egypt's most active militant group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for Thursday's deadly attacks. The group changed its name to Sinai Province after pledging allegiance to Islamic State fighters in Syria and Iraq last November.

Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces announced on Saturday a presidential decree establishing a unified army command east of the Suez Canal "to fight terrorism", in response to the attack.

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