An Egyptian police captain from a special forces unit was killed by an improvised explosive device planted on the side of the road on Friday, and a top security official was injured at Safa checkpoint, according to security sources. This came during their distribution of Suhour meals on the Ring Road south of Arish in northern Sinai. “The security forces encircled the area and combed it in search of the perpetrators,” sources added. In March 2016, ISIS claimed responsibility of an armed attack on the "Safa checkpoint", killing at least 18 Egyptian security forces and injuring seven others. Egypt's army and police have launched a major security operation in northern and central Sinai since February 9 to cleanse the region from militants and criminal elements. The operation is known as Operation Sinai 2018. In November, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi gave orders to the army and police to "use all force to root out terrorism." North Sinai has become a terrorist hub since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is considered a terrorist group by Egypt. On the other hand, the Egyptian authorities arrested Friday human rights activist Haitham Mohammadin, who belongs to the Revolutionary Socialists movement, on suspicion of joining a terrorist organization, a security source said. "He will then be referred to the Supreme State Security Prosecution for investigation and may be charged with joining a terrorist organization and inciting to overthrow the regime by publishing false news," the source added. Mohammadin was arrested on the first day of the January 25, 2011 revolution as he was participating in one of its first demonstrations. He was then released to be later arrested in September 2013 in Suez Governorate as he was heading for a protest and was released afterward. Mohammadin was later arrested again after being accused of belonging to a secret organization and spreading lies against the army.
aawsat.com
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