Egypt’s police kill 12 suspected terrorists in northern Sinai: Ministry

Egyptian police forces have killed 12 suspected members of a terror outfit affiliated to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the north of the Sinai Peninsula during an intense gunfight in the region, the interior ministry says.

Egyptian police forces have killed 12 suspected members of a terror outfit affiliated to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the north of the Sinai Peninsula during an intense gunfight in the region, the interior ministry says.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Interior of Egypt on Saturday, the heavy shootout occurred near the coastal city of el-Arish after authorities received information that “terrorist elements” were hiding in the area and were planning to carry out hostile operations.

Acting on the tip-off, counterterrorism security forces besieged the designated area and began exchanging fire with the terrorists, who were reportedly members of the Velayat Sinai outfit.

The hideout was located in Malalaha area, which is adjacent to the el-Arish police station, the statement added.

The terror group, previously known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, pledged allegiance to Daesh in 2014, and has mainly attacked security forces in the restive region of Sinai Peninsula since its inception in 2013. The terrorists have so far killed hundreds of members of security forces.