Two bombs exploded at the Swiss Inn hotel in the Egyptian city of Al Arish on November 24th. Attackers attempted to drive a car into the hotel when security forces opened fire at them. The exchange of gunfire caused the explosive inside the car to detonate. Two militants escaped the first blast and entered the hotel’s kitchen. One of them detonated an explosive belt, while the other opened fire inside the hotel until he was shot by a security official.
The Ministry of Justice reports the attack killed five policemen and injured 12. Also killed were a civilian, two security personnel, prosecutor Amr Mostafa, and Judge Omar Hammad. The attack targeted the parliamentary house judges residing as guests in the hotel. During Egyptian elections, judges monitor polling stations and count the ballots.
The Islamic State affiliated group Sinai Province, currently one of the most active insurgent group in Egypt, claimed responsibility for the double bomb blasts. It has carried out numerous threats and attacks within the region to endanger the election process. On November 23rd, an improvised explosive device (IED) killed a policeman and injured two conscripts. On the same day, another explosive detonated near a patrol vehicle that killed a woman and a child. Egypt’s parliamentary elections are divided into two phases according to geographical area. The first phase lasted the entire month of October while the second phase started on November 21st and ended on December 2nd. The Ministry of Justice promised heightened security forces to ensure the protection of judges throughout the election.
To read more, visit:
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/11/24/4-killed-in-militant-attack-on-north-sinai-hotel-housing-election-judges/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/24/us-egypt-bomb-idUSKBN0TD0BC20151124#WFhPB0w6gdmHKhgu.97
http://www.ibtimes.com/bomb-blasts-outside-egypt-hotel-housing-election-judges-kill-least-4-policemen-2197569
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/170484/Egypt/Politics-/Improvised-bomb-kills-policeman-in-North-Sinai-on-.aspx
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52646#.Vlb400YYGag
http://www.albawaba.com/news/daesh-affiliate-claims-responsibility-sinai-car-bombing-772816
http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Articles/tmpArticles.aspx?CatID=4312#.VmA1eEYYGah