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(Recast) Mortar attack kills 13 policemen in Egypt's Sinai

Xinhua, March 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

A mortar attack on a security checkpoint in Egyptian restive North Sinai's El-Arish city killed 13 policemen on Saturday, the state-run MENA news agency reported.

Two police officers and eleven conscripts were killed when a mortar shell hit the security checkpoint in al-Safa neighborhood south of the city, according to MENA.

Police cordoned the scene of the attack, while a search operation to track the attackers was launched, MENA added.

Egypt has been facing anti-government attacks, mostly in the Sinai Peninsula, which has killed hundreds of police and army personnel since 2013.

Most of the attacks have been claimed by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis militant group, which has changed its name to "Sinai State" and declared loyalty to the Islamic State.

The Egyptian military's continuous massive operations on the peninsula have killed hundreds of militants as part of the country's "war against terrorism". Enditem