Egyptians found dead in Sinai
Published today (updated) 24/01/2015 18:22
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=756088

CAIRO (Ma'an) – Egyptian security services on Saturday morning discovered
the bodies of six people shot dead near el-Arish city in North Sinai
district, an Egyptian security official told Ma'an.

The bodies were found in an area called al-Sakaska west ofel-Arish and have
been evacuated to a hospital in the city.

Initial investigations show that the six were riddled with bullets. Egyptian
army detectives are trying to identify the victims as the first step of a
probe they started.

Earlier this month Egypt's army launched large-scale military action in the
Sinai against the Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis militant group following the
kidnapping and killing of an Egyptian security officer.

Forces killed 10 gunmen allegedly affiliated with the group in response.

In November, the Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis publicly announced its loyalty to the
Islamic State.

In October, 30 Egyptian soldiers were killed in a suicide car bombing by
suspected militants in Sinai, the most deadly attack on the country's
security forces since the army ousted democratically-elected president
Mohamed Morsi.

While the southern Sinai is dotted with tourist resorts on the Red Sea -- a
popular destination for scuba divers -- the lawless north is a base for
militants who have launched a wave of attacks, mostly targeting security
forces.

In February, a suicide bomber killed three South Korean tourists in an
attack on a bus in the south Sinai resort of Taba that was claimed by Ansar
Bayt al-Maqdis, the most active militant group in Egypt.

The group also tried to assassinate the interior minister in Cairo last year
with a car bomb.

Also Saturday, explosions were reported in several districts across Egypt as
the country prepared to mark the fourth anniversary of the Jan. 25
revolution which resulted in toppling Hosni Mubarak.

Egyptian security officials told Ma'an that two explosive devices went off
at the railway in Zaqaziq city in al-Sharqiyya district in northern Egypt.
The sources said sections of the tracks were damaged interrupting trips.

In addition, a young man identified as Adli Malak, 22, was injured by
shrapnel and was evacuated to hospital.

Another bomb exploded in the railway in Kafr al-Sheikh district.

A third explosion hit a security station in the village of Maymoun in Bani
Sweif district.

Three more explosive devices were discovered and neutralized in a public
park and a public transportation bus in Alexandria, according to the
security sources.

A bomb was also found in a ferry in al-Qantara in eastern Ismailiyya city.
The Egyptians claimed that the name of Hamas' military wing appeared on the
neutralized bomb.

The sources added that a huge explosion rocked a public transportation
station in Ramadan 10 city in al-Sharqiyya district.

They added that a bomb was neutralized in a school in al-Buheira district
and another in a court hall in al-Sharqiyya. In the same district, according
to the Egyptian security, a bomb was hurled at a natural gas station in
al-Mahmudiyya city.

No casualties have been reported in those incidents.