12 Egyptian security personnel killed at checkpoint

Cairo, Oct 14 (IANS) At least 12 members of Egypt's security forces were killed and eight others injured on Friday when suspected Islamist assailants opened fire at a checkpoint in North Sinai province, an official said.

The attack happened in central Sinai area, 40 km from Bir al-Abd town. The official said the assailants used rifles and automatic weapons before fleeing the scene, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hundreds of Islamic State-affiliate terrorists have been killed in intensified Egyptian military raids besides arrests of hundreds others in North Sinai as part of the country's "anti-terrorism war" declared following the army-led ouster of Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

--IANS

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