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11 extremists killed in security raids in Egypt's Sinai

Xinhua, June 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 11 extremists were killed and four suspects were arrested on Saturday during security raids on their hideouts south in Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid cities of Egypt's North Sinai province, security sources in the peninsula told Xinhua.

"The raid also destroyed three buildings and seven motorbikes used by the militants, and seized three wireless devices for remote explosion, 12 cylinders designed as explosive devices and a bulletproof vest," said the sources, adding that the raid also destroyed the opening of a cross-border smuggling tunnel at Rafah border area.

Similar military raids last week killed 22 extremists and wounded 30 others who were seriously injured in the restive Sinai Peninsula.

The extremists are believed to be loyalists of the Sinai-based, al-Qaida-inspired Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) militant group, which has changed its name to "Sinai State" and vowed loyalty to the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Terrorist activities mounted in Egypt since the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi by the army in July 2013 and the following security crackdown on his loyalists that left over 1,000 killed and thousands more arrested.

On the other hand, hundreds of police and army personnel were killed in attacks carried out by extremists and self-proclaimed Islamists since Morsi's removal.

In its annual report released in late May, Egypt's National Council for Human Rights said that the violence since Morsi's removal has resulted in the death of 2,600 people, including 700 police and army men, 550 civilians and 1,250 Brotherhood members and supporters. Endit