In a statement released on social media, the ISIS-affiliated Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis (Wilayat Sinai) claimed responsibility for an explosion in Cairo’s Haram area that killed 10 people.
The explosion in Haram killed seven policemen and three civilians on Thursday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior.
According to state-owned Al-Ahram, the bomb exploded during a police raid on an apartment in the area, where militants were suspected of hiding. Egypt’s security forces have been raiding several apartments across the capital in the days leading up to the fifth anniversary of the January 25 revolution.
In addition to the three deaths, at least 12 others were injured in the blast. They have been transferred to a hospital for treatment.
ISIS, in a statement released on social media which could not be independently verified, claimed responsibility. In the statement, the terror group said it had booby-trapped the apartment with explosives.
Earlier on Thursday, five policemen were killed after unidentified gunmen opened fire at a police box in the centre of El-Arish, North Sinai.
Up to 100 militants have been killed in Egypt’s North Sinai since the start of the year as part of military operations. In a recent statement, President Sisi said that terrorism in the area does not exceed more than one percent of North Sinai’s total land area.
Since the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi, the Sinai has witnessed a wave of violence, often targeting security forces.
A fact-sheet prepared by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs put the death toll for terrorism acts which took place since January 2011 and until April 2014 at 971, including 664 security personnel.
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