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At least 13 Egyptian policemen killed in a mortar attack claimed by IS

At least 13 Egyptian policemen killed in a mortar attack claimed by IS

Egypt

At least 13 Egyptian policemen were killed after Islamists fired a mortar at a check point in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.

The Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, but said in a statement that it had deployed a suicide bomber who blew up a car at the checkpoint, which jihadists then raided.

EGYPT#IslamicState Releases Pictures Shows Attack In
Security Post In AlSafa Of Al-Arish Sinai pic.twitter.com/cSL1snFnQW via Terror_Monitor

— ARnews 1936 (ARnews1936) March 21, 2016

Government officials added that the incident took place near El-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai.

According to security officials, government forces were later able to kill five of the militants who executed the attacks.

Sinai is a sparsely populated area bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

It has for years been a haven for Islamist militants.

Egypt is battling an armed campaign from Islamists that has gained pace after its military overthrew President Mohamed Morsi.

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