Eight terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces during a raid on hideouts in the desert area of Al-Risa in Al-Arish, North Sinai, according to Egypt’s Interior Ministry.
“The National Security Agency has been able to trace and follow up the movements of some terrorist elements involved in several terrorist attacks in North Sinai Governorate, and could monitor their movements to attract new elements of supporters of their ideas and deviant beliefs to push them to expand their terrorist operations in the governorate,” a statement by the Ministry said.
It went on to say that, “the information confirmed that these elements received training in the use of weapons and the manufacture and planting of IEDs in one of the desert areas in the city of Arish and that they were staying in one of the abandoned houses in the area of Al-Risa in the city, and were using the place to hide and start to carry out their hostile operations targeting the armed forces, police and citizens.”
Eight terrorists died and police forces seized five automatic guns, two explosive devices, and a large amount of ammunition. Legal proceedings were taken and the Supreme State Security Prosecutor immediately ordered an investigation to be launched, the ministry said.
Egypt has been battling with a low-level insurgency in North Sinai since a 2011 uprising ended the 30-year rule of former President Hosni Mubarak, which intensified following the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
