Three North Sinai residents were reportedly abducted on Tuesday by masked gunmen who took them to an unknown destination, according to security and tribal sources. The sources said the kidnapped were from al-Toma and al-Muqtaa in Sheikh Zuwaid, North Sinai, adding that the victims' relatives could not identify the perpetrators. The kidnappers are likely members of the Islamic state affiliated group, Wilayet Sinai the sources said, revealing that another Sinai resident was found dead near Sheikh Zuweid city, noting that his body had several gunshot wounds. Sinai-based militant group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has recently self-proclaimed itself as Wilayat Sinai (The Province of Sinai). The group's attacks against army have escalated since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi June, 2013. The group claimed responsibility for the attack on an army base in Arish leaving at least 40 deaths among military personnel and civilians, January 29. The group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) November 2014, as it released videos showing the beheading of captured Sinai residents, over claims they collaborated with Egyptian army by providing information about the group.
