Egypt: Police thwart two militant attacks in Al-Arish November 27

Event

Egyptian police thwarted two militant attacks in Al-Arish (North Sinai province) on Monday, November 27. Both attacks reportedly targeted security checkpoints; militants launched a gun attack on a checkpoint in the village of Atef Sadat in Al-Arish, while a second gun attack targeted a police post on Valley Bridge Road. Three militants were reportedly killed in the thwarted attacks and two others were wounded. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Context

The restive Sinai Peninsula has been a target of various attacks by Islamic State (IS)-affiliated militants since 2013. Northeastern Sinai, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, has been particularly volatile. According to current President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, the risk of terrorism has increased in the country as IS's major territorial losses in Iraq and Syria have caused many of its militants to come to Egypt.

Over 300 people were killed in a suspected IS attack on Al-Rawda mosque on Friday, November 24. The attack took place in the town of Bir Al-Abed, approximately 40 km (25 mi) west of Al-Arish (North Sinai), during Friday prayers.​ Egypt is currently under a state of emergency, originally declared following IS attacks on churches in Alexandria and Tanta, which killed 44 people on Palm Sunday in April 2017.

Advice

Due to the prevailing threat of terrorism, individuals throughout Egypt should report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly vulnerable to an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Some governments advise their nationals against all travel to the Sinai Peninsula due to the persistent terrorist threat.