Sinai bomb wounds 18, emergency extended

Egypt has extended its state of emergency in parts of the Sinai Peninsula for three months, as a roadside bomb wounded 18 policemen earlier Sunday, security officials say.

The attack happened near El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province where the army is battling Islamic State group loyalists, according to the officials, who said the policemen were on leave.

Health ministry official Tarek Khater said the wounded were in stable condition in a military hospital in the city.

The state of emergency was originally declared in parts of the peninsula in October following the death of 30 soldiers in an attack close to El-Arish.

Sinai Province of #ISIS claimed bombing a bus carrying police in al-Arish, and sniping and clashing with soldiers in Rafah & Sheikh Zuweid.

— SITE Intelligence Group (@siteintelgroup) July 26, 2015

— AFP