Yesterday, on Sunday, July 30, three Egyptian police officers and personnel were killed in an armed attack targeting a national security headquarters in El-Arish, northern Sinai.
The military hospital in El-Arish received the bodies of the officers and police, who belonged to the special operations forces of the central security sector. Egyptian media reported that one officer and two policemen were killed during the armed clash.
According to the Associated Press (AP), gunshots were heard since 7 a.m. and continued until 3 p.m., coinciding with a complete disruption of communication networks and internet services in the city. Around 21 other security personnel were injured in the attack, suffering from gas inhalation and gunshot wounds, with eight of them being officers.
During his program yesterday, television host Amr Adib stated that an attack occurred in El-Arish, and he referred to a tweet by Minister of Planning Hala El-Saeed in which she mourned the victims before deleting it later.
The national security headquarters is situated in a security-restricted area and houses several government offices. Usually, entry to the area is restricted to employees of these offices or citizens after presenting their identification cards and undergoing a criminal check.
It is worth mentioning that the incident was met with official and media silence, as no statement has been issued regarding the attack, and no government media outlet mentioned the incident.
In January, Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly declared that North Sinai was free from terrorism. Over the years, the Egyptian state has waged a war against terrorism, reaching its peak when the armed forces announced a comprehensive military operation in Sinai on February 9, 2018, imposing restrictions on entry and exit from the governorate, except with permission, in an effort to eliminate terrorism.
In November 2022, an officer in the Egyptian army and three tribal groups supporting it were killed in an attack by the “Sinai Province” organization, affiliated with “ISIS,” in western North Sinai, east of the country.
El-Arish is now witnessing a security calm after years of deteriorating security due to the attacks by the “Sinai Province,” affiliated with “ISIS.”
