Death Toll From Sinai Attack Rises To 30: Egyptian Official

The death toll from a deadly bombing that targeted a military checkpoint in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula has risen to 30 people, a Health Ministry official has said.



"The death toll has risen to 30," Khaled al-Khatib told Anadolu Agency on Saturday.



He added that 31 people were also injured in the bombing, which rocked a military checkpoint in North Sinai on Friday.



Following the attack, Egypt declared a three-month state of emergency in parts of North Sinai, during which a nighttime curfew will also be imposed.



For the past 16 months, the Egyptian army has waged a major offensive against militant groups said to be based in the Sinai Peninsula, which shares borders with both Israel and the blockaded Gaza Strip.



Since last year's ouster of Mohamed Morsi – Egypt's first freely elected president – by the army, the restive peninsula has seen a spate of attacks by unidentified militants on security personnel.



By Hagar al-Dosoki



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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