Security was tightened in North Sinai Governorate following two attacks on police checkpoints by anonymous gunmen on Thursday. The control room for the pipeline supplying gas to Israel and Jordan, located south of Arish City, was subject to a similar attack.
Police forces exchanged fire with the assailants at the checkpoints, who escaped. There were no injuries.
Eyewitnesses said that the Rayesa checkpoint on the Arish-Rafah international road was attacked by gunmen. The source of the gunfire was from the Karama neighborhood, just south of the international road, they added.The assailants escaped to a deserted area south of Arish.
Another checkpoint on the ring road south of Arish was attacked by masked gunmen in a pickup truck. The police exchanged fire with them, forcing them to flee into the desert.
The gas pipeline control room in Arish came under heavy fire, but no damage was caused. The pipeline has been empty of gas since the latest in a series of bombings on 5 March.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
