A bomb attack targeting the police in Egypt’s restive Sinai Peninsula has injured 20 officers, officials say.
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Insurgents have intensified attacks since his successor Mohamed Morsi, who came from the Muslim Brotherhood, was ousted by the military in 2013.
The blast happened on Thursday on the outskirts of Sinai’s provincial capital of El-Arish located in the northeastern part of Egypt. The bomb targeted a bus carrying policemen who were on leave, medics and security officials told media.
Meanwhile, the government was meeting on Wednesday to discuss a controversial draft anti-terrorism law under which reporters could be jailed for contradicting official statements, cabinet officials said.
The 20 policemen and a civilian were wounded in the blast, health ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said, adding that three of the wounded were in serious condition. The Sinai-Based militant group Ansar Beit?el-Maqdes, which pledged allegiance to Islamic State militant group, ?claimed responsibility for the attack.
There has been fierce fighting in the Sheikh Zuweid area on the border between the Sinai and the Gaza Strip.
Last week, militants said to be linked to Daesh staged a series of coordinated attacks on security checkpoints in northern Sinai that left at least 17 soldiers dead.
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The military said on Monday it had killed 241 militants in the Sinai between July 1 and 5, while losing 21 soldiers in jihadist attacks. Four wanted men and 49 other suspects have also been arrested, and 26 vehicles and 18 motorcycles used by militants were destroyed by the army. “They were all killed in firefights with the fighters in the checkpoints, the heroes of the armed forces”.
