Police officer killed in Beni Suef, 18 others injured in North Sinai

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with military commanders in North Sinai Saturday in his role as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, wearing military uniform. (Photo Presidency Handout)

A police officer was shot dead Thursday morning in Beni Suef by unidentified armed men on a motorocycle, the Ministry of Interior said. Mohamed Essam El-Din, who had the rank of a captain, worked with criminal investigations department at the Beni Suef Security Directorate.

The ministry issued a statement in which it stated that “police officers are determined to combat terrorism despite challenges and sacrifices.” However, a few hours later, another larger attack in Nort Sinai’s Arish city reportedly injured 18 policemen, after an explosion targeted their security installation.

There were at least 18 injuries, but no dangerous conditions, state media MENA quoted Sinai-based security official stating. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi stressed upon the importance of security cooperation between civil police forces and the army, giving priority to fighting terrorist groups in Sinai and to the protection of vital police, military and state institutions.

This came in his Thursday meeting with ministers of Defence and Interior, Sedky Sobhy and Magdy Abdel Ghaffar, respectively. Egypt has not yet recovered from a series of terrorist operations, one which claimed the life of the Prosecutor-General, and another which killed at least 17 soldiers in North Sinai. As so, the blame was mostly put on the Muslim Brotherhood group.

Al-Sisi said there would be new rigorous counter-terrorism measures. The judiciary announced it would speed up cases involving “terrorism charges” during the summer of 2015, as the government is currently revising an anti-terror law to be passed soon.