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The Latest: US condemns attack in Egypt's Sinai

Original Publication Date September 11, 2017 - 4:36 AM

EL-ARISH, Egypt - The Latest on an attack on a police convoy in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula (all times local):

8:45

The U.S. State Department has said it strongly condemns the attack on a police convoy in the Sinai Peninsula that killed 18 policemen.

The United States, said spokesperson Heather Nauert, would "continue to stand with Egypt as it confronts the threat from terrorism."

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the ambush.

The northern part of Egypt's Sinai peninsula has been the epicenter of a long-running insurgency by militants now led by a local affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group.

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4:45 p.m.

Egypt's Interior Ministry, which oversees the police, has issued a statement confirming that militants in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula have ambushed a police convoy, but its account of the incident provided no details on casualty figures or how many vehicles were destroyed.

Egyptian officials say Monday's ambush left 18 police dead and seven wounded. Four armoured vehicles and a fifth carrying signal-jamming equipment were destroyed while a police pickup truck was commandeered, they said.

The ministry statement said police travelling in the convoy fired at a car that rushed toward them, causing it to blow up and damage several of the convoy's vehicles. That was followed by an exchange of gunfire with "terrorist elements" hiding in the desert on both sides of the road, according to the statement.

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2:30 p.m.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the ambush of a police convoy in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula that Egyptian officials said killed 18 police and wounded seven.

The claim of responsibility for Monday's attack was carried by the extremist group's Aamaq news agency.

Egyptian police and military officials said the attack began with roadside bombs that destroyed and set ablaze four armoured vehicles and a fifth one carrying signal jamming equipment. The gunmen later opened fire with machine-guns and commandeered a police pickup truck.

It was the deadliest attack in the northern Sinai in months.

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1:30 p.m.

Egyptian officials say the death toll from an attack on a police convoy in the Sinai Peninsula has risen to 18, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the restive area in months.

The police and military officials say Monday's attack began with the detonation of roadside bombs that destroyed and set ablaze four armoured vehicles and a fifth one carrying signal jamming equipment. The gunmen later opened fire with machine-guns and commandeered a police pickup truck.

Among those killed were two police lieutenants. The wounded included a police brigadier general.

The attack took place about 30 kilometres (nearly 19 miles) west of el-Arish in northern Sinai, the epicenter of a long-running insurgency by militants now led by the extremist Islamic State group.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

— Ashraf Sweilam

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11:40 a.m.

Egyptian officials say suspected militants have ambushed a police convoy in the Sinai Peninsula, killing two policemen and wounding two others, including a police brigadier-general.

The police and military officials say the Monday attack began with the detonation of roadside bombs that destroyed and set ablaze three armoured vehicles and a fourth one carrying signal jamming equipment. The suspected militants later opened fire with machine-guns.

The attack took place about 30 kilometres (20 miles) west of el-Arish in northern Sinai, the epicenter of a long-running insurgency by militants now led by the extremist Islamic State group.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

— Ashraf Sweilam

News from © The Associated Press, 2017
The Associated Press

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