A security source said on Friday that security forces killed Shady al-Menai, the leader of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis in northern Sinai, and five others, including Ahmed Abdel Aal, a leading figure of the group who was sentenced to death for the attack on the Arish Police Station.
Two of the killed elements have not yet been identified.
The source added that joint campaigns between the Interior Ministry and the armed forces have succeeded in terminating large number of terrorists that planned and committed crimes in Sinai and neighboring governorates.
Analysts say the death of al-Menai is a major security achievement after his predecessor Tawfiq Zeyada was killed in March as he was about to carry out a suicide attack.
Menai had prevented presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi from holding a rally in northern Sinai in the 2012 elections when he was contesting deposed President Mohamed Morsy.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
