Suspected militants kill Egyptian soldier in Sinai

Security officials say gunmen thought to be members of al-Qaeda-inspired Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis

Illustrative: Egyptian soldiers in an armored vehicle in northern Sinai, May 2013. (AP)
Illustrative: Egyptian soldiers in an armored vehicle in northern Sinai, May 2013. (AP)

EL-ARISH, Egypt — Security officials in Egypt say suspected militants have attacked an army convoy in the restive Sinai Peninsula, killing one soldier and wounding another.

The officials said Sunday’s attack took place south of the town of Sheikh Zuwayed. They say militants believed to be members of an al-Qaida-inspired group opened fire and fled the scene.

The group, Ansar Beyt al-Maqdis, or Champions of Jerusalem, has carried out attacks across Egypt in recent months that have killed dozens of people, mostly police officers and soldiers.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to speak to journalists.

On Saturday, Egyptian prosecutors charged 200 suspected members of the group with carrying out over 50 terrorist attacks that killed 40 police officers and 15 civilians.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.

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